Hamilton County Schools will continue five-day-a-week, in-person instruction at least through Sept. 25, officials said Friday.
The district announced it will continue with the Phase 3 schedule, meaning every student who enrolled for in-person learning is expected to attend school five days a week and follow the normal bell schedule. Students who opted for in-person education initially returned to school in person two days a week, on alternating schedules, on Aug. 12. They returned to full-time schooling on Aug. 31.
The decision came even though two schools - East Side Elementary and Soddy Daisy Middle School - had to switch to virtual learning on Friday for one day of cleaning and conducting contact tracing.
According to a news release, the decision to continue with in-person instruction was based on health data such as active cases, hospitalizations, patients in intensive care and other data.
The continuation of on-campus learning does not affect HCS at Home or Virtual School students. Those students will continue to learn from home.
As of Friday afternoon, there are 901 active coronavirus cases in Hamilton County and 78 people have died, including two under the age of 10.
Seventeen Hamilton County Schools employees have tested positive for COVID-19, up three since Aug. 31. Approximately 33 students have active infection, an increase of nine cases since Aug. 25, according to the district's tracking website.
The school schedule for Sept. 28 through Oct. 9 will be announced on Sept. 21, as the district continues making decisions on a two-week rolling basis.