Communication from PPS shows COVID-19 active here and now

In the last nine plus months, we have all been hearing reports of the impacts of COVID-19 from across the country and across the world.

In the last three weeks, communication from the Portland Public Schools to parents has shown clearly that COVID is now highly active right here in our community.

Here is a summary of COVID-19 related emails sent to parents in the district so far in November.

November 4th

One positive student case of COVID-19 at Oakwood Elementary.

November 6th

One positive Ionia Intermediate School District employee who was in attendance at Westwood.

November 8th

Two positive student cases at Portland High School.

November 9th

One probable positive student at Westwood.

One positive student at PHS.

November 10th

One positive case involving district transportation.

One positive case at PMS.

November 11th

One positive at PHS.

November 12th

Announcement that PHS will move to remote learning next week starting November 16th through the 20th.

Two positive students and one staff case at PHS.

November 13th

Three positive students at PHS.

One positive staff person at PHS.

One positive Ionia ISD staff person at Oakwood.

November 15th

Announcement that in compliance with new emergency order 9th-12th grade instruction will move to virtual November 18th through December 8th.

November 16th

Five positives at PHS.

One positive at PACE.

One positive at PMS.

One positive at Westwood.

One positive at Oakwood.

November 17th

Announcement that Oakwood Elementary will move to remote learning starting Thursday, November 19th and returning to in-person on Monday November 30th.

November 18th

One positive at Oakwood elementary.

November 19th

One positive staff COVID case at Oakwood elementary.

November 21st

One positive staff COVID case at Westwood elementary.

The COVID impact is not isolated to public schools in the district. According to the St. Patrick School COVID Dashboard, St. Patrick has had a total of eight confirmed cases since October 6th.

According to the Ionia County Health Department website, the 48875 zip code has 281 laboratory confirmed cases as of November 13th.