LA GRANDE — The La Grande School District’s COVID-19 infection rate, which had been dropping dramatically, was up slightly the first week of November.

The school district’s latest weekly statistics show that 17 students missed school during the week of Nov. 1-5 because of positive COVID-19 tests, COVID-19 symptoms or close contact with those who have COVID-19. That number is up eight from the week of Oct. 25-29 when nine students missed school because of COVID-19, but down significantly from the week of Oct. 18-22 when 48 students missed class and the week of Oct. 11-15 when 57 students were out because of COVID-19.

“I’m happy that the trend is going down,” said La Grande School District Superintendent George Mendoza.

Mendoza noted that the school district’s infection rate is far lower than it was in August, September and much of October. To put things in perspective he pointed out that in the past three weeks the total number of students who missed school due to COVID-19 was 43, a far cry from the 123 students and staff who were out during one week in mid-September.

The superintendent said that because COVID-19 numbers are remaining low, the school district was able to move into the less restrictive low-risk category on Thursday, Nov. 11, under the rules of its 2021 Communicable Disease plan. The school district had been in the moderate risk category.

Entrance into the low-risk category means schools can again conduct assemblies and concerts that can be attended by parents and community members, more volunteers can work in the school district and in some instances children in different grades can have recess at the same time at elementary schools.

The school district’s week of Nov. 1-5 statistics indicate that no staff members were absent during the week due to positive COVID-19 tests, symptoms of the disease or close contact with someone who has it. This marks the fifth week in a row that the La Grande School District did not have any staff out because of COVID-19.

The district’s latest statistics, based on reports to school district nurses, show that five students were out during the first week of November due to testing positive for COVID-19. Four of these students were from Island City Elementary School and one was from La Grande High School.

A total of 12 students were quarantined the week of Nov. 1-5 due to close contact with someone with COVID-19 or suspected of having COVID-19, up four from the previous week. Five of the students out were from Island City Elementary, three were from Central Elementary, three were from Greenwood Elementary and one was from La Grande Middle School.

Mendoza stressed that students and staff still must exercise caution and follow COVID-19 safety protocol despite the overall decline in the infection rate.

“We have to be careful in order to continue operating,” Mendoza said.