FROM STAFF REPORTS

Compliance with Iredell-Statesville Schools’ mask mandate helped 442 students who were possibly exposed to COVID-19 avoid being quarantined last week.

The number of staff members and students who have tested positive — eight and 48, respectively — remains low for a district with more than 20,000 students, but COVID-19 still impacted instruction at 21 district schools during the week of October 22-28.

Nine cases of COVID-19 among students were tied to secondary spread in schools and 162 students were required to quarantine due to close contact with someone who tested positive in a school environment during the reporting period. Another 387 students isolated after exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.