With the rise in COVID cases due to the Omicron variant Joplin schools were one of many districts in Southwest Missouri to cancel at least one day of classes this week. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.
According to a post on Joplin Schools Facebook page Wednesday, the district had a 17.5% absence rate that day. A 17.5% no-show rate, in a district that serves 7,800 students is at least 1,365 students out of school on Wednesday. Meanwhile, on the same day, 15% of the district staff was out due to COVID-19, which works out to at least 195 staff members calling off, out of a possible 1,300 employees.
All of the absences from staff and teachers forced the district to announce a closure for today. The school day will be made up at the end of the year on May 25. Students were already out this upcoming Monday for Martin Luther King day. While Monday is an in-service day for Joplin school staff who will now meet remotely. On Thursday, the Joplin Health Department reported an over 69% increase in COVID cases from the same period two-week ago. For 89 9 KRPS, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro
89.9 KRPS Public Radio News Blog 
I suppose, like many millions, that the surge in cases from Omicron provides the natural immunity that rarely gets discussed.
This hopefully will turn this thing endemic and then we can sort out those leaders that have become drunk on power and get them back into their boxes.
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