Paloma Valley's COVID-19 quarantine count reaches 212

By Doug Spoon, Editor

The COVID-19 protocol requiring the entire Wildcat football and wrestling programs to be in quarantine has resulted in a much higher number of quarantined students at Paloma Valley High School than at other schools in Menifee.

As reported here on Monday, there are 115 Paloma Valley football players and 50 wrestlers on quarantine because some athletes in each sport have tested positive for COVID-19. The number from those groups who have tested positive has not yet been reported. Anyone determined to have been in close contact with one who has tested positive must stay home from school for 10 days, unless they are fully vaccinated or test negative after the fifth day.

According to Candace Reines, deputy superintendent of Perris Union High School District, Paloma Valley’s current quarantine count is 212. That is in stark contrast to the quarantine numbers at Heritage (10) and Liberty (8).

“That is primarily a condition of football and wrestling, the nature of that type of close contact, and that they are unmasked,” Reines said. Those two programs are the only ones among the three local high schools where entire teams are quarantined.

The number of positive tests at each school is updated on the PUHSD website each Friday. As of Aug. 27, there were 57 confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Paloma Valley, 10 at Heritage and 7 at Liberty.

Paloma Valley’s scheduled football game against King High of Riverside this week has been canceled. Heritage won’t be playing football this weekend, either. According to athletic director Brandon Jones, the Patriots’ game at Chaparral Friday has been canceled because Chaparral players are in quarantine.

The Romoland School District website lists the following number of known cases at each school:

Boulder Ridge Elementary: 1 currently, 7 cumulative total since July 1
Harvest Valley Elementary: 5 currently, 19 total
Mesa View Elementary: 9 currently, 18 total
Romoland Elementary: 5 currently, 8 total
Ethan A. Chase Middle School: 12 currently, 29 total

COVID-19 numbers for schools in Menifee Union School District were not immediately available. They do not appear to be reported on the district website and a message inquiring about the information was not returned today.