Coronavirus impact on schools remains unclear as scores of OC students head back to classrooms.
Author Archives: Hosam Elattar
Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC/ Report For America reporter covering Anaheim & North Orange County, food insecurity, housing & homelessness, the Arab & Muslim American community and education.
Elattar started at Voice of OC as an intern in January, 2020 and has covered local food banks’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic, School board debates on how to teach history, the decades long push by Arab American business owners to recognize Little Arabia and a corruption scandal at Anaheim City Hall.
He has won several awards from the OC Press Club including Best News Story, Best Political Story and Best Religion Story.
Elattar is Egyptian American and has lived in Botswana, Nepal, Uganda, The Dominican Republic and India.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Orange County Registrar of Voters Put Out Faulty Farsi Translation in Voter Guides, Agency Moves to Fix
To fix the error, the registrar will be sending out corrected translations to residents who requested voting materials in Farsi.
Posted inEmergencies & Disasters
As Orange County Classrooms Reopen, Questions About Coronavirus Spread Surface
Public health experts are concerned about how the coronavirus can spread in OC schools as many classrooms begin to reopen.
Posted inEmergencies & Disasters
OC Officials Won’t Release Coronavirus Outbreaks at Schools, While Concerns Persist on School Reopenings
OC Health Care Agency officials won’t disclose coronavirus cases at schools and are instead leaving that decision up to school districts.
Posted inCountywide
OC Jail Deaths Count Highest in 2020 of the Last 4 Years; None From COVID-19
Twelve people have died in Sheriff’s Department-run jails this year — more than in any of the last four years — and the OC Health Care Agency says no inmate has died from Coronavirus.
Posted inEducation
As OC School Districts Push Forward With Reopenings, Concerned Teachers and Parents Push Back
More than a few teachers are talking about a potential strike or taking other actions if they are not reassured of adequate safety measures.
Posted inEducation
As OC Districts Reopen Schools this Week, Questions and Petitions for Delay Mount
As a host of OC schools start welcoming back students this week, there are mounting questions from teachers and parents about how reopenings – and potential outbreaks – will be handled.
Posted inCountywide
What Are OC School Districts’ Plans For Potential Coronavirus Outbreaks on Campuses?
District reopening plans say school officials will work with the Health Care Agency to decide on a case by case basis what to do if someone tests positive for coronavirus.
Posted inEducation
Newport-Mesa Community Divided Over School Reopenings, Union Calls Plans Vague
Petitions with over 500 unique signatures combined are pushing for the district to hold off on that as schools all over Orange County prepare to offer classroom instruction.
Posted inEducation
Irvine Unified School District Community Members Call For a Delay in Return to Schools
The district announced it would open up classrooms again for hybrid in-person instruction on Sept. 24 — making it one of the first districts in the county to return to school.
