MUSTANG PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Empowering Today To Achieve A Better Tomorrow

Contact: Kirk Wilson, Director of Communications FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tel. (405)376-7919
Email: ​WilsonJo@mustangps.org
Date: 10/22/20
Mustang Public Schools COVID-19 Update: Week 9 -​ Increasing Once Again
(Thursday, October 22, 2020) - After seeing improvement in the data related to COVID-19 spread in the school system for
the previous three weeks, today Mustang Public Schools is reporting a reversal in that trend. The District shares weekly
updates in line with their commitment to transparent communication and within the boundaries of privacy law
(​FERPA​/​HIPAA​). NOTE: Last week the report was produced on Wednesday due to Fall Break while this week’s report
is coming out today due to scheduling conflicts that prevent its release on Friday.

The total active cases this week held steady at 30, while total active quarantines/isolations saw an increase (from 366 on
October 14 to 389 today). “While this increase was somewhat expected, it is troubling based on what we had hoped for,”
Superintendent Charles Bradley explained. “There were a large number of active cases, quarantines, and isolations that
returned to school during the last week, but the number of new reports essentially outpaced those that returned to school
resulting in no real net decrease to the number of individuals that are missing school/work due to COVID-19.”

As Canadian County is still experiencing a ​high level of community spread​ (as indicated by last week’s statistically
significant increase in cases per 100,000 individuals, from 28.99 to 34.39, which kept it at the Orange 2 alert level), the
District will continue with the A-B Schedule at Mustang High School, and will continue with the requirement of
masks/face-coverings in PreK-12th grade (see revised ​Return To Learn Health/Safety Protocols​).

“On Monday we will get to reopen Riverwood Elementary, and we expect the next 7-9 days to be critical in looking at our
path moving forward for the entire District,” Bradley continued. “The incubation period for this virus is 2-14 days which
means that any fallout from Fall Break will likely come soon if it is to happen. We are very thankful to those that took
precautions during Fall Break, and we hope to reap the benefit of those mitigation strategies in the coming weeks;
however, we are concerned with what we have already seen in the four days since we have been back.”

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. You can take steps to slow the spread.
● Stay at least 6 feet away from others​, whenever possible. This is very important in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
● Cover your mouth and nose with a mask​ ​when around others. This helps reduce the risk of spread both by close contact and
by airborne transmission.
● Wash your hands​ ​often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least
60% alcohol.
● Avoid crowded indoor spaces​ ​and​ ​ensure indoor spaces are properly ventilated​ ​by bringing in outdoor air as much as
possible. In general, being outdoors and in spaces with good ventilation reduces the risk of exposure to infectious respiratory
droplets.
● Stay home and isolate​ ​from others when sick.
● Routinely clean and disinfect​ ​frequently touched surfaces.

“If we could stress one thing,” Bradley surmised, “it would be that individuals should not report to work/school if they are
feeling ill and especially not if they have a pending test themselves or if someone in their household or that they have been
in close contact with has been tested and is awaiting results. We must also continue to be mindful ​inside and outside of
school t​ o maintain in-person learning and work toward the goal of increasing the amount of in-person instruction at
Mustang High. We will continue to communicate with those directly impacted with each positive case and/or “​close
contact,​” to follow all COVID-related safety procedures as indicated in our ​Health/Safety Plan​, and will also continue to
monitor the data to make decisions that support the health and safety of all of our Mustang Family.”

Data for the week ending on October 30, 2020 is included on the following page.
For the week ending on Friday, October 30, 2020:

CUMULATIVE ACTIVE 10/22/2020

Known Positive Known Close Quarantines/ Known Positive Known

Cases of Contacts/ Isolations To Cases of Quarantines Data reflective of time
School/Site COVID-19 Symptomatic Date COVID-19 / Isolations period: 8/10-10/21

MHS 70 553 623 3 40

MEC 4 20 24 1 3
MMS 8 114 122 0 12
MNMS 10 129 139 1 41
MCMS 7 109 116 1 1
Canyon Ridge 18 191 209 0 9
Horizon 7 141 148 0 7
Meadow Brook 9 98 107 1 23
Centennial 7 72 79 2 14
Creek 11 137 148 7 72
Mustang Elementary 9 110 119 1 18
Lakehoma 7 91 98 3 14
Trails 4 87 91 0 10
Valley 1 62 63 0 4
Prairie View 6 71 77 3 30
Riverwood 6 104 110 3 50
MERC/Admin/District 15 62 77 4 11
TOTALS 199 2151 2350 30 359
Total Active Positive Cases: 30 Total Active Out of School: 389
Total "Recovered" Cases: 168 75 carried from previous weeks
Deaths: 1 314 NEW this week
Known Positive Cases of COVID-19: ​Administrative staff, support staff, teachers and/or students who have reported confirmed positive
tests for COVID-19.
Known Close Contacts/Symptomatic: ​Students/Staff who have come into close contact with a positive case or are symptomatic and
linked to a known positive case of COVID-19.
-Close Contacts consist of those that occurred outside of MPS as well as those within MPS.
Q​uarantines To Date: ​ The total number of individuals who have quarantined since August 10 including those who have come into close
contact with a positive case, are/were symptomatic, or who have tested positive.
Active Quarantines/Isolations: ​The number of individuals currently not at school/work related to COVID-19.

In order to help reduce the spread of illness, Mustang families and staff should:
● Use the ​MPS Daily Symptom Check​;
○ NOT report to work/school with symptoms or send symptomatic students to school
○ NOT report to work/school if you have received a COVID-19 test and results are pending
● Email ​COVID19@mustangps.org​ to report any positive test results, exposures, close contacts, or quarantines;
● Maintain social distancing as feasible and wear face-coverings/masks;
○ This is important in confined spaces such as vehicles/workrooms/offices
○ During lunches, mask up when not actively eating
○ Mask up when in common areas (hallways, restrooms, etc.)
● Frequently wash hands or utilize 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.