COVID-19 case spike in college-aged students partially attributed to Bethel – Record Searchlight

The worldwide death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has eclipsed 1 million. The milestone recorded by Johns Hopkins University comes more than nine months into a crisis that has forced multitudes to change the way they live, learn and work. (Sept. 28) AP Domestic

Shasta Countys reopening efforts are likely to take a hit owingto a surge in positive COVID-19 cases driven by college-aged students.

While 96 people in their 20s have tested positive since Sept. 18, Redding's two accredited colleges,Shasta College and Simpson University, have told the Record Searchlight they have had a combined eight cases since the schools started in mid-August and inearly September, respectively.

While public health spokeswoman Kerri Schuette said cases at Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry would be counted among those "associated with college students," Bethel initially declined to say if any of its students have been infected with the coronavirus.

In a news release Thursday afternoon, Bethel spokesman AaronTesauro said the church recognizes the community is at risk of additional restrictions due to the increase in cases,has been talking almost daily to public health officials and is taking steps to safeguard the community.

But in a followup email early Thursday evening, Bethel acknowledged that "aportion of the new cases in Shasta County have been amongst our students and staff, so we are taking swift action under the guidance of Public Health to minimize additional spread."

The email did not specify how many students and staff have been infected.

A sign at the entrance of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area tells visitors to social distance due to coronavirus concerns on Friday, April 24, 2020.(Photo: Matthew Brannon/Record Searchlight)

Bethel is asking anyone with symptoms or who has come in close contact with somebody who has COVID-19 to quarantine as specified by theCenters for Disease Control guidelines.

"This has led to a large number of people staying home as a precaution," the evening release said.

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In addition, Bethel will cancel its Oct. 4 and Oct. 11 in-person church services that havebeen held outdoors on itsbaseball field.

And starting Monday, the School of Supernatural Ministry will pivot to online instruction and the school will ask employees who can do so to work remotely. Those who can't,can come on campus, but must social distance and wear face coverings, Tesauro said.

Bethel officials did not say when in-person instruction would resume.

Schuette said the county expects its risk designation in the eyes of the state tomove from "moderate" to "substantial" next week.

We expect to be in the 'red'come next week. We are planning for that, Schuette said.

That means bars and breweries would be forced to close again. Restaurants, movie theaters and places of worship would have to scale back their operations.

The Shasta County Health and Human Services Public Health branch on Sunday, April 5, 2020.(Photo: Matthew Brannon/Record Searchlight)

Meanwhile, both Simpson University and Shasta College have kept their COVID-19 cases low employing different learning strategies. Simpson resumed in-person instruction when school started in September. Shasta College students are doing online instruction and will continue that in the spring.

Bethel has said its School of Supernatural Ministry accepted fewer students for its 2020-2021 academic school year and will be operating at 70% capacity due to the coronavirus pandemic from 2,300 students last year to 1,600 this year.

News: Shasta County COVID updates: 33 more cases reported, with many new patients in their 20s or younger

Tesauro also said that students were required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival and take aCOVID-19 test prior to beginning school. While on campus or in rooms where six feet of distancing isn't possible, all students will berequired to wear face coverings, according to Tesauro.

In addition, Bethel said it's working with public health officials to start a second round of testing for students and staff, Thursday's news release said.

Schuette said preventing an outbreak among college students is challenging because they often live together and work in businesses around the community.

Many of us used to be in college and we know what it was like to go to school and work to make ends meet, she said. Youre living with a bunch of people to save money. ... If somebody is sick with COVID and continues to do all those things, they are exposing a lot of people and that creates and exponential problem.

To date, local health officials have not identified the schools where positive coronavirus cases have been confirmed.

But in many cases when there has been a case at a school, the school itself has sent out communications to the students, staff members and sometimes the community, Schuette said.

Mark Endraske, Simpsons dean of students who also leads the schools COVID task force, met with public health officials and he was told the universitys low number of cases is due to good planning and its work with health officials, spokeswoman Candace Brown said.

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Brown said the five cases are Shasta County residents who commute to campus.

"We are encouraged by the support and know that continuedcare and attention will be necessary for our COVID response so that we finish the semester well," Endraske said in a statement.

As an extra precaution, students who go home for the Thanksgiving break will be asked to stay home and finish their course work remotely, Brown said.

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David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column.Hes part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, coverbreaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-225-8219. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

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COVID-19 case spike in college-aged students partially attributed to Bethel - Record Searchlight