Marion County Public Schools reported another decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases and quarantines last week.
The weekly COVID-19 report released by the district shows that during the week from Saturday, October 9 to Friday, October 15, 41 positive cases were reported across the county. That number is a 16% decrease from last week’s total, and is trending away from the first weeks of school when thousands of students and employees were testing positive and quarantining.
Schools reported 123 quarantines by students and employees last week, which is a 29% decrease from the week prior (October 2 to October 8). The Florida Department of Education issued an order three weeks ago that grants parents discretion in quarantining child students who have been exposed to COVID-19.Â
In recent weeks, the total number of positive COVID-19 cases reported has steadily declined.
During the first week of September, over 500 students and employees tested positive. During subsequent weeks in September, that total was nearly cut in half twice, falling to 157 cases a month ago.
Currently, 9,578 students, or around 22%, have opted out of wearing face coverings.
Around 26 departments and schools reported positive cases during the week, including 13 elementary schools.