COVID-19 Update & Reminders – August 5, 2021

Aloha Saint Mark Parents,

I hope and pray you all are doing well.  I’m writing with the latest updates.

COMMUNITY CONDITIONS 
The current numbers (which are available on the Hawaii Data Collaborative) have dramatically increased over the past several weeks.

Current Numbers
The 7-day state average of reported daily new cases is 381 (256 on O`ahu) and the 7-day state average of the positivity rate is 5.4% (6.9% on O`ahu).

May 27 Numbers (Last week of 2020-21 School Year)
The 7-day state average of reported daily new cases is 50 (39 on O`ahu) and the 7-day state average of the positivity rate is 1.0% (1.5% on O`ahu).

GOOD NEWS (No Evidence of On-Campus Spread)
As explained in my email on Saturday, a case of COVID-19 was identified in our kindergarten class last week which necessitated us quarantining the entire class.  While this was unfortunate news, it was not unexpected as the highly contagious Delta-variant pervades our community.

The good news is that we are seven days into our kindergarten quarantine and there is thus far no evidence of any spread in kindergarten or anywhere else on our campus.  This is comforting but not surprising news.  Preventing the on-campus transmission of COVID-19 when it does make its way onto our campus (and it will continue to do so) is precisely why we so ardently insist on the strict adherence to our safety protocols.  These protocols, while not perfect, are effective!

NOT SO GOOD NEWS (Lots of Community Spread)
Despite our successful start to the new school year, the number of daily positive COVID-19 cases on Oahu continues to climb at a disturbing rate.  In fact, there were 655 new COVID-19 infections reported today alone.  And the Hawaii Department of Health is reporting that 80% of new COVID-19 cases are the highly transmittable Delta-variant.  Our hope and prayer is that our community will collectively take the appropriate preventative actions necessary to decrease this rapid spread.

EVERYONE’S HELP IS NEEDED
Being a smaller school, we have a major advantage over our larger counterparts in that we can more carefully control our environment while at school.  However, we obviously cannot control what happens while away from school.  This is where (more than ever) we need your help!

Saint Mark continues to implore our families to do everything they can to thwart this new surge and prevent further spread of this virus while the students are not on campus.  Among other measures, we need to do the following:
(1) Stay Home if Unwell
(2) Wash Hands Often
(3) Always Wear a Mask (when out of the house or around any non-household members)
(4) Get Vaccinated

PLEASE GET VACCINATED!
As I imagine you are well-aware, this latest COVID-19 surge is disproportionately impacting the unvaccinated – which include our keiki under 12.  In fact, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky recently said in a C-SPAN news conference, “There is a clear message that is coming through: This is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated…”

Now more than ever, Saint Mark fervently encourages all those eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine to please do so!  We understand that getting vaccinated and establishing community (herd) immunity is our best chance of getting Hawai`i’s kids and teachers fully back-to-school and resuming more normal/traditional school activities.

Our expectation is that in September/early October, the Pfizer vaccine will be approved for ages under 12 and that we will see a majority of students get vaccinated. Saint Mark will be working with our community partners in an effort to offer a vaccination clinic to our students.  This is part of our continual effort to strongly support vaccination as the best COVID-19 mitigation strategy.

QUARANTINING COHORTS
With this amount of COVID in our community, it is important that our families understand (and plan for) that when we do have COVID-19 positive cases on campus and it is determined that that individual was in close contact with a cohort, that cohort will be sent home for 10 days of quarantining.

We are all in this together and collectively we can help keep our Saint Mark and broader community safe!  Mahalo for your continued patience and commitment in these uncertain and challenging times and please do not hesitate to contact the school office should you have any questions.

Mahalo, Blessings and Stay Safe this Weekend,

David Gaudi
Head of School