The role of the school nurse has changed amid the coronavirus pandemic as they work to keep students and staff safe as cases climb across Maine.“It’s been a very challenging and interesting time,” Camden Hills Regional High School nurse Janis Hogan said.The school district in Knox County recently completed a 14-day quarantine after a positive case was diagnosed.Hogan contacted the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which provided a liaison to the school district.Hogan worked with the Maine CDC to provide them the close contacts of the person who tested positive for the virus.“That we turned over to the CDC, and I know right now they are overwhelmed with the number of people they have to contact, but that is their role, their position,” Hogan said.Hogan said there were more than 100 students and staff they had to get in touch with.“For us it was close to 100 students and five or six staff that had to quarantine, and that is a big shift for people to be following through and paying attention and getting tested,” Hogan said.The school district has also needed to switch to hybrid learning after the state switched Knox County from a green designation to yellow due to a spike in cases across the county.“We will have half of the students one week, half the students the following week,” Hogan said.The pandemic has meant fewer students stopping by Hogan’s office with headaches and other medical concerns.Students and staff are using an app with questions about COVID-19. Those who are sick are supposed to stay home.Hogan said she asks parents and students to keep wearing masks and noted that their cooperation has been helpful. I have to say when I call parents it’s always, ‘Thank you for reaching out to us. Thank you for what you're doing as a school nurse.’ That feels good,” Hogan said.