Nearly 200 Students, Teachers Have COVID After 1st Week Of School

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — Nearly 200 students, teachers and staff members tested positive for the COVID-19 virus during the first week of school, according to Sarasota County Schools’ COVID-19 dashboard. The 2021-22 school year started Aug. 9.

As of Monday, 151 students have tested positive for the virus, with 40 cases among teachers and staff. All have been isolated and aren’t attending school.

Another seven staff members and 75 students have been quarantined as a result of contact tracing.

Since July 1, 434 students have tested positive for coronavirus and 115 staff members and teachers have gotten COVID-19, according to the district’s dashboard.

At the end of the first day of the school year, Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Brennan Asplen announced several temporary policy changes to minimize the spread of the coronavirus.

For the next 30 days, the school district has temporarily suspended field trips and nonessential volunteers and visitors at campuses "in an effort to minimize quarantining of students and staff and maximize high-quality instruction," he said.

Face coverings are optional for all students and staff but are strongly encouraged for those who are unvaccinated, according to the district's Return2Learn guide. Schools will have masks available for those who need one.

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The district asks parents to check the temperature of students before school and to keep home those who have a fever of 100.4 or higher or who have a cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, or other coronavirus symptoms.

Vaccinated students who are exposed to someone with COVID-19 won't need to quarantine unless they show symptoms. Unvaccinated students or those who haven't finished the series of shots yet are required to quarantine when exposed to the virus, the district said. Quarantined students can return to school after seven days and a negative COVID-19 test, otherwise they must remain quarantined for 10 days.

Students are also asked to practice social distancing whenever possible, including when waiting for the bus, when changing classes or going to an elective or special area class, and in the classroom. Students must also sit in their assigned seats in the classroom, cafeteria or on the bus.