WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Dec. 17 update:
Six River City High School students have now tested positive for COVID-19, according to Yolo County Health Officer Dr. Aimee Sisson.
Four infected students shared one classroom while two other students who contracted the virus, shared a different classroom, according to John Fount, pubic information office for Yolo County.
An adult in one of the student's house who is also involved in the outbreak brings the total number of people involved to seven.
Original story:
Five students at River City High School in West Sacramento have tested positive for the omicron variant of COVID-19, according to a spokesperson from Yolo County.
John Fout, a spokesperson for Yolo County, said four of the students came from one class and the fifth student is a family member who is not in the class. An additional family member, who is not a student, is also part of the outbreak bringing the total number of cases to six.
Fout said in a statement that the number of cases is expected to increase as more students get tested.
Fout told ABC10 that two of the five cases are confirmed and the other four are presumed based on the connection to the two confirmed cases.
Two of the students were vaccinated but did not receive a booster shot, according to a press release.
Fout says the symptoms were mild and all the students are doing ok.
"There are contact tracers in the process of contacting those associated with those four confirmed cases," Giorgos Kazanis, a spokesperson for the school district told ABC10.
According to an email from the school district, Yolo County Health Department is calling this an outbreak since there were more than three cases in one classroom. The health department is not recommending the district close the school right now.
Dr. Aimee Sisson, the county health officer, is recommending all students and staff get tested for COVID-19.
“The detection of an Omicron outbreak at a Yolo County school is not surprising because we already knew that Omicron was present in Yolo County, and schools are a part of the Yolo County community. This outbreak illustrates that the Omicron variant is circulating in our community and is not just a risk for those who have traveled. Omicron is here, and Omicron can spread quickly,” Sisson said in a statement.
Students and staff will also be offered at-home antigen testing kits to use over winter break, according to a press release for Yolo County.
"The County Health Officer strongly recommends that all students and staff get tested as soon as possible. It is important that students and staff know their status before going home or traveling during Winter Break," the district said in an email to staff and parents.
Students like 16-year old James Brooks say the fact the Omicron variant was discovered at his school is personal.
"I recently had a grandfather that passed away from the coronavirus. So, it's been affecting my family recently. I just don't want anybody to have what I dealt with," said Brooks."
He says the mood at the school has turned since the positive cases.
"Usually the mood is fun, happy. But now the mood is a little lower. The vibe is down," Brooks added.
His mother Rachel Brooks is very worried.
"It is scary. It does scare me. But I feel very comfortable with my son being vaccinated," said Brooks.
"It's really dangerous and can spread a lot," said student Natalie Wetzel.
Her mother is concerned, but not too concerned since initial studies show the variant is not as severe.
"If it is causing much milder symptoms that's not a terrible thing that people won't be getting as ill," said Kristen Wetzel.
COVID-19 testing is available for River City High School students and staff daily outside Raider Cafe or inside the F Commons.
Locations for vaccinations can be found on myturn.ca.gov. For current testing locations and hours throughout Yolo County, including West Sacramento City Hall, visit HealthyDavisTogether.org/testing/. Visit www.yolocounty.org/covid for Yolo County COVID-19 information.
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