COLUMBUS, Ohio — Record coronavirus numbers in Ohio schools were reported this week as districts continue to announce transitions out of in-person learning while staff and students quarantine.

What You Need To Know

  • Ohio schools reported the most cases yet in this week's update

  • Schools have scaled back in-person learning as cases skyrocket

  • Bus driver and substitute teacher shortages have impacted learning models

The number of cases in schools has risen each week this fall as the school year progresses, but Thursday’s update marked a more significant increase from those in previous weeks.

This week’s new infections among students, 2,795, represented a 42% increase over the 1,627 cases reported last week. New staff case numbers, 1,733, were up 37% since last week, when 1,096 cases were reported. A total of 8,926 students and 5,667 staff cases have now been reported by the Ohio Department of Health.

As the coronavirus pandemic worsens in all corners of the state, some schools cannot maintain sufficient staffing of teachers and bus drivers to proceed with in-person learning. Other districts have transitioned to remote models as a precaution.

The Logan Hocking School District is pausing in-person learning for two weeks, superintendent Monte Bainter said Wednesday.

“The decision to go remote was made due to the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases and the number of students and staff that are in quarantine,” Bainter said. 

Centerville City Schools will return Monday to remote learning, superintendent Tom Henderson said. 

“Over the past few weeks the spread of COVID-19 cases continues to rise in the state of Ohio and in our community,” he said. “The number of positive students and staff has continued to grow over the past few weeks. A big challenge for us is the number of students and staff members going in and out of quarantine.” 

Lakota Local schools in Butler County entered the top five for most cases this week as the district reported  67 new infections.

Cincinnati Public Schools moved to the top of the list, adding 74 new cases. The large district has now reported a total of 137 student cases and 95 staff cases. 

School case data is posted to a statewide dashboard released on Sept. 17. that has been tracking cases at traditional elementary and secondary schools as well as other non-college schools. The numbers are updated weekly, and do not include cases at schools that are fully virtual, unless a virtual learning COVID-19 positive student has been on school grounds.