Fargo-Moorhead MSA Schools Coronavirus Update | Week 5 - IV Words

A Weekly Report of Coronavirus Cases in Community Schools

The following represents confirmed coronavirus cases in Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan statistical area K-12 schools as reported by MSA school districts. IV Words is unable to independently verify the validity of the figures. For background and definitions, please see the information below the statistics.

Fargo Public Schools (FPS)

Snapshot Data: 10/8/20
Currently out due to a positive Covid-19 test

Students – 19
Staff Members – 14

Cumulative Data: 9/2/20 – 10/8/20

Students – 77
Staff Members – 26

Cumulative Data, Previous Week: 9/2/20 – 10/1/20

Students – 49
Staff Members – 18

West Fargo Public Schools (WFPS)

Snapshot Data: 10/8/20
Currently out due to a positive Covid-19 test

Students – 18
Staff Members – 8

Cumulative Data: 9/3/20 – 10/8/20

Students – 54
Staff Members – 26

Cumulative Data, Previous Week: 9/3/20 – 10/1/20

Students – 37
Staff Members – 19

Moorhead Area Public Schools (MAPS)

Snapshot Data: 10/8/20
Currently in Covid-19 related quarantine

Students – 128
Staff Members – 52

Cumulative Data: 9/8/20 – 10/8/20

Students – 28
Staff Members – 11

Cumulative Data, Previous Week: 9/8/20 – 10/1/20

Students – 20
Staff Members – 7

Background

The Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan statistical area (FM MSA) includes Fargo and West Fargo in North Dakota, and Dilworth and Moorhead in Minnesota.

The public has a r ight and a need to know about confirmed coronavirus cases in schools. IV Words is contacting several school districts in the MSA on a weekly basis to request figures for confirmed coronavirus cases among students, teachers, paraprofessionals, support staff members and administrators.

MAPS regularly updates a webpage that contains coronavirus case and quarantine information. Neither FPS nor WFPS has a protocol for informing the public of coronavirus cases but have agreed to provide statistics related to confirmed coronavirus cases in their districts’ facilities if asked.

Due to DGF’s relatively small enrollment, there is concern that release of coronavirus case figures could might make it possible to identify specific students and staff members. As a result, DGF is not releasing district-specific coronavirus case statistics.

Definitions

Snapshot Data, FPS and WFPS – The numbers of students and staff out of school on the day data is requested due to a positive coronavirus test. IV Words is requesting data weekly, beginning with the first day of school for each district.

Snapshot Data, MAPS – The sum of students and staff in COVID-related quarantine on the day data is requested. The school district updates data regularly. Please note the difference between this method of reporting and FPS and WFPS reporting (above).

Cumulative Data – The number of people who have reported a positive coronavirus test to the school district or whose positive coronavirus test has been reported to the school district by a government agency or healthcare organization, since staff returned to the school district’s facilities for the 2020-21 school year and since the first day of in-person instruction for students.

Staff – School districts are reporting data for staff, teachers, paraprofessionals, support staff members, administrative staff members and administrators under a single category – “Staff.” Cases are reported to the schools both by impacted individuals, their families and the appropriate county public health units.