A total of 246 students and 21 school staff members in Indian River County tested positive for COVID-19 during the first half of the school year, a recent state report shows.
The jobs of 43 school-related people who tested positive for the virus were listed as “unknown,” according to a Dec. 22 state Health Department report.
During the week before holiday break, 41 students, three teachers and three listed as unknown at 18 public and private schools in the county tested positive for COVID-19.
That included one student at St. Edward’s School who tested positive for COVID-19 during the week of Dec. 13 through Dec. 19, the state report shows.
A total of seven students, four staff members and one listed as unknown at the barrier island prep school have been diagnosed with the virus since Sept. 6.
The only other school on the barrier island, Beachland Elementary, has had three students test positive for COVID-19 this school year, the state report shows.
By contrast, Indian River County School District records indicate only two students at Beachland Elementary have tested positive for the virus since the new school year started August 24.
The difference between the two numbers is the School District only provides information about COVID-19 cases involving students and staff members going to school in person, while the state Health Department reports reflect those participating in virtual learning via computer as well.
Overall, the state Health Department reported 244 cases of COVID-19 in 21 public schools in Indian River County this school year, 200 students, 13 staff members and 31 unknown people.
Another 27 people were diagnosed with the virus at the county’s six charter schools since Aug. 24, the state report shows. COVID-19 infected 18 students, two staff members and seven unknown people.
Five private schools in Indian River County have had 39 COVID-19 cases this school year, the state report shows. That includes 28 students, six staff members and five unknown people.
Public schools in Sebastian stood out as hotspots for COVID-19 cases in the week before the holiday break, the state Health Department report shows. A total of 19 people in five schools tested positive for the virus.
Seven students and a staff member at Sebastian River Middle School tested positive for COVID-19, as did six students at Sebastian River High School, the report shows.
Two students and an unknown person at Pelican Island Elementary School tested positive for the virus between Dec. 13 and Dec. 19, the state report shows. A student also tested positive at Sebastian Elementary School and Treasure Coast Elementary.
Glendale Elementary had four cases between Dec. 13 and Dec. 19, two students, a staff member and an unknown person. Four students also tested positive at Storm Grove Middle School.
Two students and a staff member at Vero Beach High School tested positive for COVID-19 during the week ending Dec. 19, the state report shows. Two students were also diagnosed with the virus at the Freshman Learning Center.
Overall, VBHS has had 62 cases of COVID-19 this school year, 56 students, three staff members and three unknown people. That’s the 11th most cases out of nearly 500 high schools in Florida.