8 McHenry Co. Schools With COVID Outbreaks: IDPH

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — As of Friday, eight schools in McHenry County were reporting COVID-19 outbreaks among their students, according to public health officials.

The Illinois Department of Public Health provides updates on active youth outbreaks, which have been mainly linked to schools, every Friday. Outbreak information is reported once clusters of cases are confirmed to be linked by location and time — within 14 days, according to IDPH.

The outbreak information is reported by local health departments to the Illinois Department of Public Health through an outbreak reporting system. Specific outbreaks included are those that have been identified by the local health department to have three or more COVID-19 cases who may have a shared exposure at a shared youth related location and are from different households.

Among McHenry County schools with active outbreaks is Heineman Middle School in Algonquin where eight students and staff tested positive for the virus since the first case was reported on Sept. 28.

Other schools with reported outbreaks in McHenry County include:

• Mackeben Elementary School in Algonquin: Less than five cases tied to the classroom. The outbreak was first reported on Oct. 12.
• Marengo Community High School: Fewer than five cases tied to sports. The outbreak was first repotted on Oct. 8.
• Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock: Fewer than five cases tied to sports. The cases were first reported to public health officials on Oct. 20.
• Martin Elementary School in Lake in the Hills: Fewer than five cases tied to the classroom. The COVID cases were first reported on Oct. 20.
• Woods Creek Elementary School in Crystal Lake: Fewer than five cases tied to the classroom. The first COVID cases were repoted on Oct. 12.
• Edgebrook Elementary School in McHenry: Fewer than five cases tied to the classroom. The COVID outbreak was first reported on Sept. 18.
• Harvard High School in Harvard: Seven cases tied to sports. The outbreak was first reported don Sept. 29.

Across Illinois, there were 123 active outbreaks among youth as of Friday, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

McHenry County and state health officials have been prepping for the approval of the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 years old. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices could give its stamp of approval on the Pfizer shots for younger children on Tuesday or Wednesday.

• COVID-19 Vaccine For Illinois Kids: New Timeline, Rollout Plan
• McHenry County Preps To Get COVID-19 Shots To Young Children