HOLMES BEACH – For the first time since the start of the 2021-22 school year, Anna Maria Elementary has not reported any positive COVID-19 cases among students or staff for two consecutive weeks.
AME remains one of only two schools in Manatee County that has not reported any COVID-positive staff since the beginning of the year, and student cases remain among the lowest in the county at 12.
The numbers are dropping throughout the county, which has seen a total of 2,401 student cases and 355 staff testing positive since the beginning of the school year. As of Friday, Sept. 24, there were only nine students and nine staff reporting a positive COVID-19 status in the county.
The School District of Manatee County has a mask mandate, but since there is an opt-out clause, it is not in violation of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ban on mask mandates. Florida’s newly-appointed Surgeon General, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, signed new protocols on Sept. 22 allowing parents to decide whether their children should quarantine or stay in school if they are asymptomatic after being exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
In terms of quarantine rules, Ladapo eliminated previous mandates requiring students to quarantine for at least four days off-campus if they’ve been exposed. Under the new guidelines, students who have been exposed can continue going to campus “without restrictions or disparate treatment” provided they are asymptomatic.
COVID-19 procedures in Manatee County schools
- All students and employees who are sick or who have symptoms will be sent home until they are symptom-free.
- Temperature checks will be taken daily for all employees and randomly for students.
- Reinforce and practice proper handwashing techniques among students and staff.
- Provide and encourage the use of hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Deep clean and disinfect schools and school buses daily, or in between uses as needed.
- Make every effort to social distance as much as possible in schools.
- District employees visiting schools, other than their own, must wear masks during the school day.
- Provide plastic shields in elementary classrooms and cafeterias where possible.
- All employees will answer COVID-related questions daily upon arriving at work.
- Limit non-essential visitors and volunteers to school campuses.
- Everyone eligible to be vaccinated is strongly encouraged to get vaccinated.
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