Two COVID-19 cases reported at Yorkville Intermediate School

Families of Yorkville Intermediate School students received an email notification Friday, Oct. 30 that two individuals at the school at 103 East Schoolhouse Road, Yorkville, had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

In the email, Principal Steve Bjork, wrote that the two individuals were last on campus Oct. 26 and Oct. 27. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, individuals are considered contagious 48 hours prior to showing symptoms.

Bjork continued, "Any employees and/or students who had 'close contact' with the individual at the school (according to IDPH guidelines), and were potentially exposed to the virus, have been notified to quarantine and informed of the return-to-school process/timeline.

"As always, we ask that parents/guardians continue to monitor their children for any symptoms of COVID-19 and report any concerns to the school nurse. COVID-19 symptoms include: fever of 100.4 F, or greater; new onset of moderate to severe headache; shortness of breath; new cough; sore throat; vomiting; diarrhea; abdominal pain from unknown cause; new congestion/runny nose; new loss of sense of taste or smell; nausea; fatigue from unknown cause; and muscle or body aches.

"The district will continue its regular mitigating strategies including employees/students wearing face-coverings, physical distancing of 6 feet or greater, increased handwashing/sanitizing and scheduled bathroom and high-touch surface cleaning. Yorkville CUSD 115 will continue to restrict visitor access and screen all employees/students for COVID-19 symptoms daily.

"The health and safety of the Yorkville CUSD 115 community is our highest priority, and we recognize the uncertainty and concern regarding the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We are following guidance from IDPH as well as the local health department for "best practices and procedures to protect the health of all District 115 individuals," Bjork wrote.

Friday's email notification came after the district released a school-by-school break-down of confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday, Oct. 28, that showed between Oct. 7 and 27 the district had recorded 19 cases of the virus across five different schools. District officials had previously confirmed 27 total cases since district students returned to in-person learning in late August.

The list of school-by-school case counts between Oct. 7 and Oct. 28 is as follows:

Autumn Creek Elementary School: 7 cases

Bristol Bay Elementary School: 2 cases

Grande Reserve Elementary School: 2 cases

Yorkville Intermediate School: 1 case

Yorkville High School: 6 cases

Out of district: 1 case

Through contact tracing, school officials determined that some cases were linked to out-of-district travel and sporting events.

Melinda Lasky, director of student services for the district, urged Y115 families to limit their travel and participation in group activities.

"Our community needs to continue with mitigation measures," Lasky said.

Lasky added that cases are "increasing along with metrics in Yorkville, the state of Illinois and Kendall County."

School officials plan to continue monitoring local health data, such as positivity rates, hospital capacity and per capita case counts.

*Reporter Lucas Robinson contributed to this story.