DETERIORATING: Palm Beach School System In COVID Crisis

School District Expected To Surpass 2020-2021 COVID Count This Week. Nearly 4,000 Cases Logged. Just Three Weeks Into Year.

One Area School Reports 107 COVID-19 Cases.

BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com

BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2021 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The Palm Beach County School District is expected to report its 3,856th COVID-19 case either today or Friday. It is a stunning number — and will surpass the total number of COVID-19 cases logged during the entire 2020-2021 school year.

Thursday is starting with 3,691 confirmed COVID-19 cases, split between 3,199 students and 492 employees. Thousands more are under a “stay home directive,” the school district’s equivalent of a quarantine order. Due to a mandate by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, there is no “distance learning” for the students. They can only download work, complete it on their own, and hope that their teacher is willing to work unpaid, after hours, to assist kids who are not allowed to attend school.

Area schools with notable COVID-19 counts include Boca Raton High School with 92 cases, Boca Raton Middle with 39 cases, Calusa Elementary with 41 cases, Jupiter High with 107 cases, Omni Middle with 21 cases, Olympic Heights High School with 51 cases, Seminole Ridge High with 107 cases, Wellington High with 91 cases.

While these are “official” numbers, the true case count is likely higher — and potentially significantly higher. The school district’s official count is often three days behind reality. There is a lag between school officials learning of a case and the Florida Department of Health confirming the case. Only confirmed cases are reported officially by the school district.

The following is the official list as of 6 a.m. Thursday, September 2nd, 2021:

What is the COVID situation at you school? Let us know by using the form, below. If it does not appear, access our contact center here.