COBB COUNTY, Ga. — COVID-19 cases doubled in Cobb County Schools this week, just three weeks into the new school year.
The district reported 1,764 total cases of COVID-19 among students and staff Friday. That’s up from 822 total cases reported last week.
The new numbers include 936 active cases.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
The new numbers come the day after the county issued an emergency declaration as cases of COVID-19 surge in Cobb County. The county is seeing an average of 280 new COVID-19 cases a day as of Friday.
The schools with the most positive cases of COVID-19 include East Side Elementary (84), Sprayberry High School (51), Walton High School (50), Dowell Elementary (44), Barber Middle School (43) and Nickajack Elementary (38).
RELATED STORIES:
- Cobb County Schools upholds mask-optional policy amid passionate pleas on both sides
- Cobb County issues emergency declaration as COVID-19 cases surge
- Cobb parents consider school alternatives as COVID-19 cases surge
Only four schools in the district have reported zero cases of the virus, the three virtual schools and the South Cobb Early Learning Center.
Parents have been clashing since the start of school over the district’s optional mask policy.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
More than 200 concerned parents on both sides of the mask issue rallied outside Cobb County School District headquarters Thursday night as the superintendent chose to uphold the current mask-optional policy.
On Friday, the district released updated quarantine guidelines, saying that students identified as close contacts with a confirmed case will need to quarantine for three days and wear a mask on district property for an additional seven days after exposure, regardless of vaccination status.
©2021 Cox Media Group
