Parents must enforce safety

SANDUSKY — Erie County's health commissioner called out parents who allowed their children to attend parties during the pandemic. Health commissioner Pete Schade said Tuesday several Erie County students attended a large Halloween party in Clyde, and Edison Schools' parents had a homecoming gathering for their children. "I can't blame the kids, but I think the parents should be held accountable," he said. "They are the ones who put their children into positions where people have tested positive. It's now affecting the daily lives of other people because they chose to ignore the guidelines and have some sense of normalcy for their kid. That's irresponsible. We're asking people to consider the community as a whole." Safety guidelines ask for people to wear a mask, practice social distancing and wash hands frequently. "I know people are tired of this, but we can't let our guard down," Schade said. "It is the foolish and reckless activities that will get us in the end." As cases reported by schools increase, the Erie County Health Department is asking districts to quarantine anyone who was exposed to a positive case and wasn't wearing a mask, like, for example, at lunch. "Instead of blanket quarantining, we're looking at it in more detail," Schade said. "It's a good move at this point." For now, Schade isn't recommending school districts reconsider in-person learning plans. "If the schools are able to follow the guidelines to the best of their ability, then they're okay to be in session," he said. "They're doing a good job of keeping them clean, keeping an eye on kids' health." Schools will be alright if students and staff continue to wear masks, wash their hands and social distance as much as possible. "But if they let their guard down, and parents are sending kids to school while sick, then that's a problem," Schade said. "We have to get our community to think about the ramifications of their bad decisions and how it impacts everything." Depending on how cases trend in the coming days, Schade and the health board might make new recommendations. "I'm not opposed to doing something like that. It's a difficult situation. On the other hand, schools have to be a safe alternative; we have to keep those facilities in good shape." Huron Schools to review plans Huron board members will convene at 3 p.m. today for a special public meeting to look at the district's current hybrid learning plan — three days online, two days in school — in addition to online-only and five day, in-person plans. Current county and regional COVID-19 data and total district cases will also be considered. "Any changes to the learning model may happen after Thanksgiving," superintendent Dennis Muratori said. Since school started Aug. 31, Huron Schools has had 13 cases, including two students and one staff member who tested positive this week. "What we're seeing is cases coming from within families. They're not a result of any school activities or events," Muratori said. "Our mitigation strategies are working." Huron students and staff have, overall, followed the health guidelines so far, he said. But it will be up to students, parents and the community to do their part outside of school. "That's the only way we'll be able to successfully bring students back, along with the mitigation practices we use in school," Muratori said. Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood