HERSCHER – The Kankakee County Health Department alerted Herscher Community Unit School District #2 of a COVID-19 outbreak days after administration officials reported 19 students had been infected since returning to school this year.
“The District has been notified by the Kankakee County Health Department that we have a COVID-19 outbreak at Herscher High School.” Dr. Richard S. Decman said in a letter to parents Monday night. “An outbreak is defined as an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 who has been in contact with one or more individuals who have subsequently contracted COVID-19 or are showing symptoms.”
Herscher Community Unit School District #2 reported 95 students in isolation late last week. The District has repeatedly announced multiple ‘events’ with students infected in October. District officials first reported 10 positive students and 67 individuals isolated on October 7th. Days later, the school reported an additional 3 students infected at Herscher High School before reporting an additional five students positive late last week.
“The Kankakee Health Department is recommending that Herscher High School close for the next (14) days in order to perform a deep cleansing of the building and to contain the spread of the coronavirus,” Decman said Monday night. “As a result, Herscher High School will be closed for student attendance from October 27-November 9. Herscher High School students may return to in-person instruction on November 10, 2020. Starting October 28-November 9, all Herscher High School students will receive Remote Instruction from their teachers.”
Decman reports the District will have no attendance tomorrow for all schools in the District. Limestone Middle School, Herscher Intermediate School, and Bonfield Grade School will re-open for in-person instruction beginning October 28th.
Last Friday, Central High School in Iroquois County made the move to remote learning after three students tested positive for the pandemic. It was that school’s first reported incident.
