The first weekly COVID-19 update of the school year confirmed 23 positive cases among the Marshalltown Community School District.

As of noon on Friday, 20 student cases have been confirmed with three cases among staff.

Since the pandemic began, the highest number of weekly cases reported by the district has been 34 as of last November. On four other updates since the pandemic, the case count was 20 or more, happening three weeks in November and the first week of December.

Most mitigation guidelines in effect this school year were also in effect last school year, but some adjustments have been made.

Masks are not required in school buildings this year due to a law signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds last May that prohibits school districts and local governments from requiring masks to be worn.

Employees and students have been highly recommended to wear a mask while attending school on-site, with masks still required on school buses as mandated by federal law.

A report on the number of COVID-19 cases within the district is shared weekly on Fridays. Each report shares the total number of new, confirmed cases among students and staff members throughout the district since the time of the previous report.

To protect the privacy of students and employees, the reports do not include information regarding any individual person, position or title, classroom or activity, age group, grade level or school building.

The COVID-19 reports are shared with families and staff by email and posted on the district website, as well as the school district’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

The next COVID-19 report from the school district will be shared on Friday, Sept. 3

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Contact Trevor Babcock

at 641-753-6611 or

tbabcock@timesrepublican.com.