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Bethlehem News

Most COVID-19 infections in Bethlehem schools are among unvaccinated students

Child-vaccinations-at-St.-Lukes
August Mascitti, 9, of Hellertown, receives his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at St. Luke’s West End Medical Center in Allentown on Nov. 3, 2021. (Courtesy photo)

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - In the Bethlehem Area School District, the majority of middle and high school students who have tested positive for COVID-19 over the last month are unvaccinated, according to figures compiled by the district. 

Of the 120 COVID-19 cases found in middle and high school students from November through early December, 104 or nearly 87 percent were in unvaccinated students. 

COVID testing requirements for Bethlehem’s high schoolers who are athletes differ based on vaccination status. 

Unvaccinated student-athletes are subject to twice weekly testing if they’re participating in an in-season school sport, while vaccinated students are exempted from this requirement. 

With COVID cases on the rise in the region, Bethlehem Superintendent Joseph Roy is urging students and their families to continue to protect themselves against the virus.

“Wear those masks whenever you're in crowded spaces and I urge you if you're not vaccinated, to talk to your doctor and consider getting vaccinated,” Roy said in a video posted on YouTube. 

Bethlehem Health Bureau Director Kristen Wenrich said it’s not “surprising” that the city is seeing more COVID cases among the unvaccinated in middle and high schools.

“The greatest risk of transmission is among unvaccinated individuals who are much more likely to get infected,” Wenrich said. “Fully vaccinated individuals get COVID-19 but less often than unvaccinated individuals.”