Douglas County closes Zephyr Cove Elementary and Whittell High School due to COVID-19

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The Douglas County School District is looking at its schools on a case-by-case basis when dealing with staffing shortages and student call-outs due to COVID-19.

As of Wednesday, the District announced that Whittell High will close Thursday, and since they normally have Fridays off and there is a Monday holiday, students will return on Tuesday, January 18.

Zephyr Cove Elementary School closed on Tuesday due to an outbreak with staff and they were able to pivot to remote learning quickly according to DCSD Superintendent Keith Lewis.

"The goal is to get them to school by Tuesday," said Lewis of students at the lake. He said the extended weekend can hopefully get them a reset.

Whittell had 37 percent of students out of school Wednesday due to positive cases and quarantines. They have two fewer cases among its 160 students than all of Douglas High which is much bigger.

Zephyr Cove had 10 current COVID cases among its student body which is about 150 kids.

No other schools in the DCSO area have had to close yet due to COVID staff challenges and student attendance.

Lewis and his staff have been keeping an eye on their dashboard which tracks cases by schools and they will make decisions daily and keep parents informed.