INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Three more schools have reported students or staff testing positive for COVID-19, prompting the school district to place more students on a two-week quarantine, authorities said.
There are now eight incidents involving Indian River County students being put on quarantine after other students or staff tested positive for coronavirus. The latest incidents involve Vero Beach Elementary, Gifford Middle School and Oslo Middle School.
Two staff members – one at Vero Beach Elementary and the other at Gifford Middle School – tested positive for the virus, the School District of Indian River County said in a statement. An Oslo Middle School student also tested positive for COVID-19, officials said.
The Florida Department of Health conducted contact tracing to identify which students came in close contact with the pupil and staff members who tested positive. As a result, 19 Oslo Middle School students and 32 Gifford Middle School students were instructed to quarantine and monitor their symptoms.
School officials called the families of the students and said the children need to stay home, school officials said. All school families and staff members at the three campuses were also notified.
The health department determined no Vero Beach Elementary students needed to stay home, School District of Indian River County Spokesperson Cristen Maddux said. Custodial services continue to disinfect and sanitize all areas of the campuses.
The four other schools that sent youth home after positive COVID-19 cases were reported include Vero Beach High School, Fellsmere Elementary, Sebastian River High School and Osceola Magnet School. There were two incidents reported at Vero Beach High School, leading the campus to cancel its season opening football game after a significant number of players were placed on quarantine, authorities said.
Indian River County had a cumulative amount of 2,921 COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday, including 104 deaths, according to the Florida Department of Health.