Monroe County COVID-19 cases have grown rapidly in the month of November into early December. With Brighton and Irondequoit becoming “orange zones,” schools have been forced to begin testing students and staff. 

Since the beginning of November, confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been growing by the hundreds every day. This rising trend in cases has some worried about what they will do for schooling, providing for their families, and their everyday normal activities. One of the biggest concerns amongst folks in the community is if schools will be shut down again as they were for the spring semester of the 2019-2020 school year. Many parents are worried about their children and the effect schools closing could have on their kids. 

According to the Monroe County Department of Health, in the last week of November the rolling rate for confirmed cases is at 6.47 percent. This equates to around 472 cases each day meaning that on average, there are about 3,304 new cases a week. Compared to the weekly rolling rate for the end of October which was 73 new cases a day, this is an increase of 2,800 cases a week in just one month. 

The topic on the community’s mind is whether schools are safe places for children even if they are following the new orange zone guidelines.

One school in particular made sure they played by the rules. McQuaid Jesuit conducted school wide testing on Wednesday, December 2. 

Michael Sutton, ‘22 says, “It does kind of put me at risk of bringing maybe the virus or the germs home to my family who I very much care about.” Michael describes his fear of contracting the virus as a great concern. 

McQuaid cancelled classes Wednesday, Dec. 2 after a long Thanksgiving break to make sure they could accurately and efficiently test their returning students. Testing was done in the Deborah and John DiMarco, ‘60 Field House. Students and faculty arrived at the school at different times based on the alphabetical order of their last names. Students and staff would only being able to return to school if each person had tested negative for COVID-19.

McQuaid returned to in-person learning the following day with success.