The Manitou Springs School District has experienced its first COVID-19 incident in the 2021-2022 school year. The district reported that five Manitou Springs Middle School students and staff members have tested positive for COVID as of Aug. 31.
The number of positive cases will be recorded as an outbreak in accordance with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment definition, which was updated June 1.
An outbreak is now defined as “Five or more confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19, of which at least one case has had a positive molecular amplification test or antigen test in a facility or (non-household) group with onset in a 14-day period.”
In a letter sent to parents, Superintendent Elizabeth Domangue wrote: “The individuals (students and staff) who were in close contact have been notified and the majority will remain in-person working and learning as they were either vaccinated or wearing a mask at the time of exposure.”
Following CDPHE guidelines, the district says that no further actions will be taken at this time.
Domangue also noted that the school’s front desk staff had been “highly impacted” by the outbreak but stressed that they had staff in place to support the students and parents.
Manitou Springs elementary, middle and high schools began masking indoors on Aug. 19 in compliance with the Manitou Springs City Council mandate. Ute Pass Elementary School is not subject to that mandate due to its location, but the district strongly recommends masking indoors there.
At the close of her letter, Domangue emphasized one of the key factors in preventing further COVID-19 outbreaks, writing: “I can’t express enough how critical it is for individuals to stay home if they are sick.”