MOUNT STERLING, Ky. (LEX 18) — COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Kentucky, and now more than one-third of our counties are in the red zone for cases.
That means a countyhas 25 or more average daily cases per 100,000 residents.
Despite this status, some school districts are continuing in-person learning. One of those districts is Montgomery County Schools.
Inside the Clay Community Center in Mount Sterling, Montgomery County Clerk Chris Cockrell and election workers are making sure conditions feel safe for voters.
"I think people realize that what we've done, the precautions we've put up, has made this a safe place to vote," said Cockrell.
Safety is even more important on this day because, in Sunday's report from Governor Beshear, Montgomery County was designated a red zone community.
"I have lung problems, and it's very scary," said Agnes Parm.
Agnes Parm is also thinking about her grandchildren, both students in Montgomery County schools, which continued in-person learning this week despite being in the red zone.
In a letter posted to the school board's website, the superintendent says that the decision was made last week to continue in-person learning in Montgomery County.
At the time, the county was in the orange zone.
But now that Montgomery County is in the red zone, he says parents and families need to be flexible in case something changes.
There were more than 40 counties designated as red zone counties in Sunday's report, and we checked with school districts in those areas to see how they were instructing this week.
The following red zone counties (on Sunday 10/25/2020) are still learning in-person:
- Fleming County Schools
- Montgomery County Schools
- Jackson County Schools
- Laurel County Schools
The following red zone counties (on Sunday 10/25/2020) are 100% virtual for now:
- Nicholas County Schools
- Garrard County Schools
- Rockcastle County Schools
- Lee County Schools
- Owsley County Schools
- Clay County Schools
- Robertson County Schools
For now, Agnes Parm says her grandchildren are enjoying being back in school with friends, but echoing the superintendent they're prepared to switch if the decision is made.
"That would be fine with me. They can do virtual learning because they do that two days a week anyways. They only go to school two days, and then they do virtual learning the other days," said Parm.
