With COVID-19 cases surging across the state, schools have largely kept students learning in class through the fall.

Pella Schools Superintendent Greg Ebeling says despite multiple positive tests among students and staff in the district, the absentee threshold has remained steady for the majority of the first semester — for both students and staff, it’s hovered around two percent since classes resumed in August.

Currently, there are three students in the district that are missing due to a confirmed COVID-19 test with symptoms in the Pella School District.

Pella schools absentee data can be found at https://coronavirus.pellaschools.org/stats/

At Central College, there have been a total of 41 positive cases of COVID-19 since August 24th, and five reported over the past week in the latest weekly report. A total of 211 students have been in quarantine due to exposure since students returned to campus, and 32 are currently doing so.

As a result of student efforts and Central’s low COVID-19 effects, this week administration announced plans to move to a slightly more open guest policy in residential buildings. The new protocols can be restricted or expanded at any time as conditions at Central and/or the Pella community change.

Central College COVID-19 updates can be found at https://www.central.edu/health/

In Marion County, there are currently 1.068 positive cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic started. On Monday, Marion County Public Health reported 952 recoveries and 82 active cases. An 11th Marion County death attributed to the virus was reported this week to the State of Iowa Coronavirus database, and there are eight residents hospitalized with the virus.