(AP) — Officials say at least 800 Hawaiʻi public school teachers were out sick this week. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports interim Superintendent Keith Hayashi said the schools are seeing disruptions because of the omicron variant. In addition to those out sick, another approximately 800 teachers were out for other reasons such as vacation time or family leave. The 1,600 total absences represents about 12% of Hawaiʻi’s 12,000 public school teachers. Officials want to keep all public schools open as Hawaiʻi goes through a record surge of COVID-19 cases. Osa Tui Jr., head of the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association, says some schools have counselors, security guards and other staff watching kids.

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