Routine testing at schools across multiple districts detected thousands of Covid-19 infections when students and employees in the 600,000-strong Los Angeles Unified School District returned to in-person learning this week.

Across the county, 547,466 tests were administered from January 3 to January 9, with the majority of testing occurring for LAUSD students and staff. Last week, 80,424 positive cases were discovered, with 68,560 of them among LAUSD personnel and students, resulting in a 14.6 percent test positivity rate. While this is a high number, it is still lower than L.A.'s 20% positive rate. County-at-large.

Last week, three outbreaks among youth sports teams were reported, with another 26 school-related breakouts still under investigation. As a result, the Los Angeles Unified School District halted all school sports competitions this week while officials watched the situation.

“As schools reopen countywide, we are seeing a high number of students and staff testing positive reflecting the explosive rate of community spread,” said Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer. “Testing those who are close contacts of infected students or school staff can quickly identify others who may now be infected, and limit continued spread; and, making it easy for those eligible to get their booster doses helps ensure that immune systems are best primed to repel the virus.”

Before returning to in-person events, the district asked all students and staff to be tested for Covid, and has been providing thousands of take-home test kits to pupils since Friday.

Some students reported issues with the Daily Pass system, which was supposed to provide them with access to their exam results and clearance. The system went down, causing havoc and huge lineups.

Hundreds of U.C. In the face of the present Omicron surge, Cal State schools have opted to turn to distance learning. At least a half-dozen Northern California school districts have also reverted to remote learning.

“L.A. Unified maintains the highest Covid-19 safety standards of any public school district in the nation, including weekly testing of all staff and students, universal masking indoors and outdoors, comprehensive sanitizing efforts, frequent hand-washing, upgraded air filtration systems, physical distancing as much as possible and collaboration with health partners,” Interim Superintendent Megan K. Reilly said Tuesday.