Students at 42 Charter School arrive on the first day of in-person classes since COVID-19 shuttered schools in March of 2020. (Michael Isaac Stein/The Lens)

The NOLA Public Schools district is tracking 14 “active” COVID-19 cases among staff and students as of this week, leading to 272 quarantines, according to the district’s weekly case-tracking data posted Monday afternoon. The case count is an increase from last week when the district reported 6 cases and 159 quarantines.

Last week’s six cases were spread across just three school campuses and was the lowest weekly case total reported in months, district officials confirmed. This week, the 14 cases — 11 students and three staff — are spread across nine schools. Of the cases, 10 were newly reported in the last week. Two campuses — KIPP Believe and FirstLine Live Oak — are responsible for more than 60 percent of the 272 quarantines.

The rise in cases comes roughly two weeks after spring break, which included the Easter holiday and potential family gatherings and travel. Though district numbers increased a bit, the city’s overall numbers remain low. The city is averaging 16 new cases a day with a 0.7 percent test positivity rate. 

Roughly 42 percent of the city’s residents have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination and almost 32 percent are fully vaccinated.

Students are wrapping up state standardized testing this spring, and schools have roughly one month of classes left before summer break.

District officials said they are continuing to help connect students who are interested in receiving vaccinations by providing information. Students 16 years and older are eligible to be vaccinated. 

Marta Jewson

Marta Jewson covers education in New Orleans for The Lens. She began her reporting career covering charter schools for The Lens and helped found the hyperlocal news site Mid-City Messenger. Jewson returned...