As a result, more people have been affected by COVID-19 than ever before. Teachers and students discuss their experiences with the virus.
The first COVID case did not come as a surprise to French teacher Sally Cushmore. Cushmore personally knows people infected with COVID and was in the same place where there were positives.
According to Cushmore, people in her life have contracted COVID-19. “Right now, knock on wood I am fine, and I hope to continue to be fine, but I do know people that have actually gotten it,” Cushmore said.
“I haven’t known anyone that has passed away from it, but someone on my dad’s side of the family by marriage got it. He was in the hospital and he was on a ventilator for about a week. He did come home. I did know this was in the beginning of the pandemic around April. I know he did come home still on oxygen,” Cushmore said.
According to Cushmore, there were even more people she knew that got COVID, albeit, less severely. At least two of her ex husband’s friends, as well as students and teachers at the high school.
According to Cushmore there was one student that came into school with COVID-19 symptoms. Later, that student was confirmed to have a positive test.

According to Wissahickon High School student Josh Unipan and who was interviewed by Wissahickon student Nick Santo, he contracted COVID-19. His main symptom was a lack of any taste and smell.
“I would eat something and not be able to taste it for the first couple of bits. I knew what the food was, just my brain would have to fill in the blanks,” said Unipan.
According to Unipan wearing a mask is not that difficult and that people should know who they’re being around.
“Know who you’re hanging out with and know who they are hanging out with because you never know if someone you’re hanging out with has seen someone that has had it. Also, wear a mask. It’s not that difficult,” Unipan said.
According to the CDC, most commonly spreads between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet, or 2 arm lengths).
It spreads through respiratory droplets or small particles, such as those in aerosols, produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, sings, talks, or breathes.
According to Souderton Area School District families and staff must remain vigilant and compliant with the district’s safety protocols in order minimize the risk of disease transmission in our school community.
The building administration will also notify families and staff via e-mail when a positive case occurs within their school community.
The district also created a website that tracks COVID-19 Cases within the school district.