DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Des Moines school district has requested a waiver to move completely to online learning as state figures show coronavirus infections and hospitalizations remain high.
The Des Moines school board approved the waiver late Sunday. It's up to the state Department of Education to grant a waiver. Superintendent Tom Ahart notes Polk County’s average virus positivity rate has topped a state-mandated 15% threshold for districts seeking to shift to online instruction.
The state on Monday reported 4,212 new confirmed COVID-19 cases. Three more people have died, bringing the state's virus death toll to 1,845. A record 1,034 virus patients are being treated in hospitals.