A 13-year-old eighth-grade student in Mississippi recently passed away within hours of testing positive for COVID-19, raising concerns about the increasing number of positive cases among children in the state.
The girl named Mkayla Robinson died on Saturday.She attends classes at Raleigh High School Most of the weekThe Mississippi Free Press quoted sources as saying that from Monday to Wednesday, before testing positive for the coronavirus this weekend. Her school has no regulations on wearing masks.
The family said that Robinson had a sore throat first and had to stay at home on Thursday and Friday until her COVID-19 positive result came out on Friday. CBS affiliated with WLOX Report. Neighbor Erica Epting told the media that Robinson had gone to the hospital, but they “knew that she was sick that night” and sent her home.
“They should send her to the hospital for help,” she added.
According to the local newspaper Smith County Reformers, Robinson is a member of the school band Jr. High Lion Pride Band and is recognized as “outstanding band member and student. Band director Paul Harrison wrote on the band’s Facebook page that Robinson is ” The perfect student”.
The Mississippi State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have both called for masks to be worn in schools. However, Raleigh High School is part of the Smith County School District, which does not require students and school staff to wear masks.
When the Smith County School opened this school year, students and staff were required to bring masks to the school, but They don’t need to wear, Mississippi reported today.
On August 10, the school district changed its guidelines to require masks to be worn in schools. Around the same time, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases among students increased. As of late last week, more than 400 students, faculty and staff have been quarantined.
On Friday, the day before Robinson’s death, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves played down the impact of the virus on children. “For most children, This is just an example of sniffing,” said Reeves, reported by WAPT, an affiliate of ABC.
Even before classes start on August 6, parents have been calling for masks to be worn, but to no avail. Reeves has repeatedly stated that he will not issue mask orders across the state as he did last year.
The Mississippi flag (R) can be seen outside the governor’s office in the Jackson State Capitol in Mississippi—Governor Titrives said he will sign a bill to change the state flag into law
Photo: AFP/Rory Doyle
