Gasconade County R-2 School District administrators sent out a text message each day of classes since the last newspaper was published. Students in the Crawford County schools in Cuba have gone to virtual education since then.

On Nov. 11, Gasconade R-2 families were notified a high school staff member and a Gerald Elementary student had tested positive for COVID-19. The OHS staff member was last on campus Wednesday, Nov. 4 and the student was last on campus Monday, Nov. 9. All students and staff who had direct contact with these individuals were contacted by either the district or health department.

In conjunction with these cases nine students and three staff members were asked to quarantine. The letter did not specify where these quarantined persons were students or worked.

Also in the Nov. 11 letter, it was reported a student at the middle school and three students at Owensville Elementary were asked to quarantine by a health department due to exposure outside the school environment. As secondary contacts there is no further action required at this time, the district noted without specifying which county’s health department made the request

On Nov. 12, a message went out reporting an OHS student who was last on campus Nov. 9 had tested positive for COVID-19. In conjunction with this case four students were asked to quarantine.

Separately, an OES staffer and an OMS student were asked to quarantine due to an exposure outside of school. Again, as secondary contacts, there was no further action.

OES officials in a separate note to families, reported the staff member was last in that building on Wednesday, Nov. 11, and had not shown any positive symptoms related to COVID-19 while at school.

On Friday, Nov. 13, the district reported an OHS student and an OMS staff member had tested positive for COVID-19. The student was last at OHS Monday, Nov. 9, and the staff member at OMS on Tuesday, Nov. 10.

In conjunction with these cases 34 students and a staff member were asked to quarantine.

In addition, four OES students were asked to quarantine by a health department, due to exposure outside the school environment. As secondary contacts there was no further action required.

By Monday, the situation was repeating itself.

The district’s Nov. 16 message included word that an OHS staff member, one at Owensville Elementary, and one in the transportation department had tested positive for COVID-19. These individuals were last on the OHS campus Tuesday, Nov. 10, OES campus, Wednesday, Nov. 11, and transportation Thursday, Nov. 12. Four students in contact with these three positive cases were asked to quarantine. The message did not specify which building they were attending.

Also on Monday, the district reported four OES students, one at Gerald, five in the middle school, and three high schoolers were asked to quarantine by a health department, due to exposure outside the school environment. As secondary contacts there was no further action.

And, late Tuesday afternoon, families were notified that an OHS staffer and two OMS staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. These individuals were last on the OHS campus Tuesday, Nov. 17, and at OMS on Monday, Nov. 16.

All students and staff who had direct contact with these individuals have been contacted by either the district or health department. In conjunction with these cases seven students were asked to quarantine. The message did not specify which building these students were attending. 

Separately, two OES students, 1 OMS student, and 1 high school student were asked to quarantine by a health department due to exposure outside the school environment.

Publicly reported positive cases

Reports of COVID-19 exposures in public settings this past week include a Bland Board of Aldermen meeting on Nov. 9. The town’s mayor told The Republican’s reporter he had tested positive as of Nov. 12.

Health officials in Gasconade County were also investigating possible exposures at a youth hunting promotion Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at the Hermann Rod and Gun Club. Three people who reportedly tested positive were in attendance at the event.

A possible exposure was reported Nov. 9 at Owensville’s Walmart between 6-10 p.m.

Owensville Ward 2 Alderman Charles “Rob” Borgmann announced at the city’s meeting on Monday that he had tested positive as of this past Thursday. He was participating in the meeting remotely, noting he did not have any symptoms.