Marion County Public Schools saw a slight increase in COVID-19 cases during the last week of school (November 20 to December 3).
The new COVID-19 report was released Monday and shows that during the last week of school, there were 17 positive cases reported across the county. Of those cases, 13 were students and 4 were employees.
The number of positive cases has remained low in recent weeks. Since the middle of October, the number of positive COVID-19 cases each week has remained below 20.
In November, the Florida Department of Health announced that the vaccine is now available for children between the ages of 5 to 11.
Schools reported 57 quarantines by students and employees last week, which is a decrease of 10 from the week prior (November 13 to November 19). Back in September, the Florida Department of Education issued an order that grants parents discretion in quarantining child students who have been exposed to COVID-19.
The current report shows that at least 13 schools and district departments reported positive cases over the week, including seven elementary schools.
Marion County Public Schools announced in October that face coverings are now optional in all of the county’s public schools.