With cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) surging again, local students will miss school this week. Quitman students will not have school Friday and Yantis is closed for the remainder of this week.

Quitman campuses are also closed to outside visitors and volunteers through Friday, Jan. 21 and Mineola is closed indefinitely to visitors during students' lunch times starting Friday, Jan. 14.

For those needing to inoculate themselves againts the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Mineola ISD is hosting a COVID-19 vaccine clinic Thursday, Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the Elementary nurse's office.

Yantis ISD Supt. Tracey Helfferich wrote Wednesday:

At this time, we are not able to safely staff campuses, including transportation and other district programs. The combination of a review of attendance, the rising number of illnesses, and the consultation with medical professionals helped us make this decision. Classes will resume Tuesday, January 18th, with buses running as normal. We will be taking this time to thoroughly clean all facilities and distance everyone as much as possible.

Quitman Supt. Rhonda Turner shared the following Thursday morning:

Quitman ISD is experiencing high numbers of positive Covid cases along with other illnesses; especially among our faculty and staff. For this reason, QISD will be closed Friday, January 14th. QISD has a scheduled holiday on Monday, January 17th. Students will return to class on Tuesday, January 18th. Students will receive guidance from their coaches or sponsors regarding any activities scheduled for Quitman HS. We will be using extra minutes that were built into our calendar so this day will not need
to be made up by students.

Mineola Supt. Cody Mize posted this Thursday morning:

Our number one goal throughout the pandemic has been to keep our doors open and provide quality instruction and support to our students. We are going to continue to do just that, but we need your help as we move through this surge of COVID-19, strep, cold, and flu season.
Starting this Friday, we will close all of our campuses to visitors during student's lunch times. As before, we will open this up again as soon as possible.

Mize told the school board Monday that 13 staff members were out with the virus and a large number of students were dealing with the virus and other illnesses such as strep throat and upper respiratory problems.