Number May Seem Low, But Every Child Coming Into Contact With Infected Child Must Quarantine For Days.
37 Teachers Also Infected With COVID-19 Just Four Days Into School Year.
BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
UPDATE: We updated at 9:27 a.m. Saturday, August 14th, 2021 to reflect additional cases added since our last report.
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2021 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Just four days into the 2021-2022 school year and the worst case scenario for the Palm Beach County School District is starting to play out.
As of its late Friday night report, there are at least 225 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the school district, with 188 of those cases being attributed to students. By its own admission, the public report is often three days behind “reality,” meaning the count is likely much higher. Interim Superintendent Michael Burke said Thursday that at least 440 students are now quarantined at home — meaning they may have been exposed to other students or teachers who are affirmatively positive for COVID-19.
Those students, as we previously reported, are stuck doing very little. They may download work from a central computer system, but have no interaction with teachers. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis prohibited school districts from offering “distance” learning this year through live video lessons. Quarantines can last up to ten days.
Among the notable COVID-19 counts in the school district so far: Seminole Ridge Community High with 12 student cases; Wellington Community High with 12 student cases; Christa McAuliffe Middle School with 6 students; Don Estridge High Tech Middle School in Boca Raton with 2 student cases; Equestrian Trails Elementary with 5 student cases; Frontier Elementary with 4 student cases; Hagen Road Elementary with 3 student cases; Jupiter Community High with 6 student cases; Palm Beach Lakes Community High with 9 student cases; Panther Run Elementary with 7 student cases; Polo Park Middle with 4 student cases; Rolling Green Elementary with 5 student cases; Sunset Palms Elementary with 3 student cases, Verde K-8 with 1 student case.
We note several schools, including several in Boca Raton, are reporting no cases, although parents say they have been notified of cases through robocalls. Again, it often takes days for cases to appear on the official list.
