The Shelby County Health Department will begin to regularly reveal the number of coronavirus cases reported by school districts, the Health Department and Shelby County Government announced Tuesday. 

The Health Department issued its latest coronavirus-related Health Directive, number 11, on Monday. As part of that directive, schools are required to notify parents, families, staff, and other students at-risk within 12 hours. The agency also released its second mask directive.

Schools must notify at-risk contacts within 12 hours, send weekly updates

“The latest amendments to the Health Directive mean that when there is any confirmed case at a school, the Shelby County Health Department will work with that school to ensure that those at risk are notified and advised about reducing risk,” Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said in a statement. “We must ensure that those at risk — parents, families, students and staff at schools — get the information they need to protect themselves, and receive that information as rapidly as possible.”

Previously, the Health Department has been criticized for not planning to release coronavirus case information by school due to privacy concerns.