State health officials continue to roll out more tools to help in the ongoing fight against COVID-19. And they hope the newest one will help school divisions across Virginia.
The Pandemic Metrics Dashboard is meant to give a clearer picture of the impact of the virus on a local and regional level.
It tracks things like new daily cases, ICU use and hospital’s needs for personal protective equipment within a specific area. Some historical data has been included as well – stretching back to April in some cases
Holly Coy with the state’s Department of Education says that information will help school divisions as they continue to navigate the pandemic during instruction this fall.
And while that information will be provided by the state, the department isn’t going any further.
“We remain committed in our recommendations that the decision to alter K-12 programming – including decisions about in-person instruction, school closures or hybrid learning – be handled at the most local level possible,” Coy explains.
The dashboard will also include school guidance from the Centers for Disease Control. It will also give information about outbreaks at K-12, childcare and higher education institutions.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
