CORONAVIRUS: West Seattle High School cases lead to masking recommendation

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks for the forward. West Seattle High School principal Brian Vance has sent families this note:

There have been multiple positive COVID-19 cases identified in the past week here at WSHS. In response, the district is implementing a COVID testing event and recommended masking protocol at WSHS.

Out of an abundance of caution, we are recommending that all students at West Seattle High School wear a well-fitting and high-quality mask for the next 10 calendar days starting Friday, 2/10/23 to help prevent further transmission of COVID-19. This will include Friday and next week. Masking is recommended but voluntary.

Our goal is to keep as many students learning in-person as possible while maintaining a safe environment. To help do that, we ask that you please monitor your child for COVID symptoms and keep them home if they are sick.

Covid Testing Event at WSHS – 2/10/23
In addition to the recommended masking, the district is initiating an in-school COVID-19 testing event on campus on Friday, 2/10/23. SPS staff will only test students who have consent for the current school year. If you would like to have your student tested, please consent to testing on the CIC Health website. Families will receive test results via text message or email.

Seattle Public Schools continues to update its COVID dashboard – you can see it here.

flimflam February 10, 2023 (9:18 am)

If it’s so dangerous why not make masks mandatory? Are they just worried about the backlash?

wsres February 10, 2023 (1:26 pm)

They are worried about mass absences and teacher absences.

marcus February 10, 2023 (10:45 am)

Mostly because people like would start to claim loss of freedom and government overreaching.

Not so dangerous February 10, 2023 (11:08 am)

I think the point is it’s NOT so dangerous, so what’s wrong with them sending out a sensible recommendation for a voluntary action? Why does everything have to be mandatory? It seems fine to give people the information and let them choose. They’ve made testing available which is cool for anyone who’s interested.

Orb February 10, 2023 (3:47 pm)

The school is “recommending” masks; I don’t see anything that says it’s mandatory.

Chrissy Dahms February 10, 2023 (12:25 pm)

It’s not just about the danger, it’s about the loss of learning time when there is an outbreak at school. With so many interruptions to learning over the past few years, schools are trying to keep students in the learning environment.

Marcus February 10, 2023 (12:59 pm)

You know one of these days the big one is going to hit. Just yesterday there was a health article about how dangerous fungal infections are becoming and how there is no cure. Antibiotics have limitations. Another pandemic will hit us. This Covid was a baby pandemic, horrible but just a warning. Play the game as you want.

Wseattleite February 10, 2023 (2:41 pm)

I appreciate this notification, as well as the ability to make ones own decision on masking. It will not satisfy those that constantly want to dictate what everyone else is doing, but that is probably a good thing.

AMD February 10, 2023 (5:11 pm)

It only allow you to decide whether or not to protect the people around you. It does not allow you to decided whether or not to be exposed.

LivesInWA February 10, 2023 (4:40 pm)

ZOMG! The possibility of “dictating” responsible behavior to help protect others from a possibly fatal disease, and one which even if mild can leave people with long-term neurological problems. Nah, my convenience is more important.

CarDriver February 10, 2023 (5:26 pm)

I know a nurse at Harborview. She always laughs at the anti maskers; anti vaxers; let me make the mask decision people. When she was treating them for COVID they were ALWAY’S the LOUDEST criers of “if the government was doing their job we would have been required to be “protected” and I wouldn’t be here”

Justin February 10, 2023 (5:55 pm)

My son is a junior at the school. He said, to his knowledge, no one at the school made any announcements to any students. Neither I nor my wife received any emails about this. Last thing we received from the principal was last Monday.

Mica February 10, 2023 (7:30 pm)

Do you have the “talking points”’app? That’s where I get the notifications. The notice went out yesterday.

Marcus February 11, 2023 (3:44 am)

Reading many of the responses I am very happy to be in community where people not only care about their own health but also the people around them. We live in a very intelligent community.

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