The Massachusetts Department of Education on Friday released their first report detailing the number of students and staff at schools who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Massachusetts' schools are continuing to see an increase in coronavirus cases, with 1,009 more cases reported this week.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released the numbers Thursday in its weekly COVID-19 report. A total of 591 students learning in-person or in a hybrid plan tested positive from Dec. 10 to 16, as did 418 school district staffers.
This week saw the most coronavirus cases reported in Massachusetts schools so far since students returned to class in the fall, and 86 more total cases than last week, which set the previous weekly record.
School districts this fall have had the option between in-person learning, remote learning or a hybrid of the two.
State officials announced in early November that all Massachusetts communities in the gray, green and yellow COVID risk categories are expected to have students learning in-person. They added that those in the highest-risk red category should consider a hybrid model instead of going fully remote.
While the number of positive cases in schools has been on the rise as of late, the estimated number of students and staff in public school buildings has remained steady.
