A Favorite Teacher Lost

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Image Demetria “Demi” Bannister. Credit... Richland School District 2, via Associated Press

Demetria Bannister, known as Demi, a 28-year-old third-grade teacher and choir director in Columbia, S.C., died of Covid-19 on Monday.

Bannister, who last year made a video about tardiness to the tune of “Old Town Road,” had last been in Windsor Elementary School on Aug. 28 to prepare for the school year, and had been teaching remotely since Aug. 31.

She tested positive on Sept. 4 and died only three days later. It is not clear whether she caught the virus at school; officials are now tracing her contacts. Her parents, with whom she lived, have both tested positive, and her mother is in the hospital, a family member told The Times.

Over the last month, the coronavirus likely played a factor in deaths of teachers in Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma and Mississippi, stoking fears that reopening will lead to more outbreaks. The unabated pandemic is killing hundreds of Americans every day, from many occupations and backgrounds.