SDoL COVID-19 Dashboard

All confirmed cases of COVID-19 in SDoL schools are tallied on a public dashboard. Click the link below to view.

View Dashboard
Together we can

Home / Back to School Plan / Health Data Methodology

Safely Learning

Safely Learning

Health Data Methodology

In order to protect the health and safety of our students, staff members, and community, the School District of Lancaster administration closely monitors COVID-19 cases in schools. All of this data is published daily for public view. Please see below and navigate the dashboard to find your child’s school.

SDoL COVID-19 Case Dashboard

Department of Education Guidance

We follow guidance from the PA Department of Health on responding to COVID-19 cases in our schools. The following guidance was provided to schools in the summer, though some guidance continues to change. As always, we aim to err on the side of caution.

Level of Community Transmission in the CountyNumber of Cases of COVID-19 Within a 14-day PeriodNumber of Cases of COVID-19 Within a 14-day PeriodNumber of Cases of COVID-19 Within a 14-day Period
Please note: This is guidance only. DOH has wide discretion in advising schools on possible closures.

  • 1 student or staff (small schools <500 students)

  • 1-3 students/staff (medium schools 500-900 students)

  • 1-5 students/staff (large schools >900 students)


  • 2-4 students/staff in same school building who are not household contacts (small schools <500 students)

  • 4-6 students/staff in same school building who are not household contacts (medium schools 500-900 students)

  • 6-10 students/staff in same school building who are not household contacts (large schools >900 students)


  • 5+ students/staff
    in same school building

  • 7+ students/staff in same school building (medium schools 500-900 students)

  • 11+ students/staff in same school building(large schools >900 students)

Low


  • School does not need to close

  • Clean area(s) where case spent time

  • Public health staff will direct close contacts to quarantine


  • Close school(s) for 3-5 days*

  • Clean area(s) where cases spent time

  • Public health staff will direct close contacts to quarantine


  • Close school(s) for 14 days*

  • Clean entire school(s)

  • Public health staff will direct close contacts to quarantine

Moderate


  • School does not need to close

  • Clean area(s) where case spent time

  • Public health staff will direct close contacts to quarantine


  • Close school(s) for 3-7 days*

  • Clean area(s) where cases spent time

  • Public health staff will direct close contacts to quarantine


  • Close school(s) for 14 days*

  • Clean entire school(s)

  • Public health staff will direct close contacts to quarantine

Substantial


  • School should consider altering schedule to significantly decrease number of students on site

  • Clean area(s) where case spent time

  • Public health staff will direct close contacts to quarantine


  • School should consider altering schedule to significantly decrease number of students on site

  • Close school(s) for 3-7 days*

  • Clean area(s) where cases spent time

  • Public health staff will direct close contacts to quarantine

  • School should consider altering schedule to significantly decrease number of students on site

  • Close school(s) for 14 days*

  • Clean area(s) where cases spent time

  • Public health staff will direct close contacts to quarantine

* If case investigations, contact tracing, and cleaning and disinfecting can be accomplished in a faster time frame, the length of closure time may be shortened.

SDoL COVID Data Hub

SDoL also monitors local health data to determine the timing and pacing of the district’s phased return to limited in-person instruction. The school board approved a Health Data Indicator Table to guide the district’s phased return to limited in-person instruction. Please note, these data are a guide. The district balances health data against academic and social needs of students.

The health data indicators outlined in the SDoL Health Data Indicator Table are monitored by the district administration on the SDoL COVID Health Data Hub.

Weekly Incidence Rate

The weekly incidence rate (total number of new cases over the past seven days, per 100,000 people) and 14-day average of the weekly incidence rate (14-day average of the total number of new cases over the past seven days, per 100,000 people) are calculated based on the new cases reported each day by the Department of Health (DOH). In order to ensure that the district administration is reviewing the most up-to-date data, this metric is calculated on a rolling basis, so each day’s metric reflects the new cases from the previous 14 days.  

Case Rate Positivity

The positive case rate percent positivity is also reported by the DOH and is posted to the COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard each Friday. Some private providers (e.g. Wellspan, LGH) post positivity rates of their own, but these rates are based only on symptomatic patients tested by those providers, while the positive case rate percent positivity published by the DOH on the COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard provides a comprehensive view of the positivity rate, as it includes all tests conducted by all providers.

View Data Hub

Health Data Indicator Table

Level of Community TransmissionIncidence Rate Per 100,000 Residents (most recent 7 days)Average of Incidence Rate (most recent 14 days)PCR Percent Positivity (most recent 7 days)Recommended Instructional Models
Substantial≥100≥100≥10%Full Remote Learning
Moderate - Level 1


10-99		61-99


5% to <10%		Full Remote Learning
Moderate - Level 136-60Phased Return to Limited In-Person Instruction
Moderate - Level 110-35Full Blended Learning
Low<10<10<5%All In-Person Learning

The Health Data Team’s Executive Summary and PPT:

View Here

A recording of the presentation, discussion and board vote:

View Here

Data Set & Sources

All data published on the SDoL COVID Health Data Hub and reviewed by the district administration and START Plan teams is directly from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and is based on Lancaster County data. 

The decision to use Lancaster County data was due to a variety of factors, including the fact that zip codes do not align to school district boundaries, SDoL staff reside in both Lancaster City and Lancaster County, and students, parents, and community members in Lancaster City work, shop, and travel throughout Lancaster County on a daily basis. By using County data, the district administration can get a comprehensive view of the spread of the virus through our entire community, not just within the limits of the City of Lancaster.