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Cluster of COVID-19 cases reported at Iredell County childcare facility

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — A cluster of COVID-19 cases has been reported at a childcare facility in Iredell County.

The Iredell County Health Department released a report Friday saying there is a cluster of COVID-19 cases at the Primrose School of Lake Norman on Raceway Drive in Mooresville.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services considers five or more cases in a school or child-care facility to be a cluster. According to the NCDHHS, they are calling it a “cluster” rather than an “outbreak” because of the setting, which makes it harder to figure out how the spread happened and whether it occurred within the facility or from the community.

It’s unclear whether the cases are among staff members or the kids who attend the facility.

“How are you going to put these young kids in schools not touching not doing...and they’re going to take it to the grandparents,” said Joanna Chalcas, an Iredell County resident.

Chalcas said she feels the cluster of COVID-19 cases shows the inevitable danger of having kids in any sort of classroom setting.

She also said she understands the necessity of childcare centers and believes it’s up to business owners.

“To make sure their employees, the people taking care of these kids are okay to go to work,” she said. “The outbreaks, to me, you’re going to have it anyway.”

Iredell County resident Larry Jenkins said he feels schools should stay open regardless of COVID-19 cases.

“You can’t shut the whole country down or schools so you have to move forward with it in my opinion,” Jenkins said.

Officials said the owners of the center are working closely with the health department and the facility will be closed for deep cleaning until July 13.

NCDHHS is reporting clusters at 5 child care facilities and 1 school in North Carolina.

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