A student and a staff member at Beachland Elementary School tested positive for COVID-19 and 10 students quarantined as Indian River County public schools experienced their worst week of the pandemic with 50 new cases.
Countywide, 37 students and 13 staff members tested positive for COVID-19 between Jan. 8 and Jan. 14, the last day the school district posted an update on its website.
The 50 cases overall during the seven-day period doubled the previous high of 25 during the week of Dec. 14 to Dec. 20, district records show.
Another 370 students and five staff members were directed to quarantine between Jan. 8 and Jan. 14 after coming in close contact with people who tested positive.
COVID-19 cases spiked at Sebastian River High School, where 13 students tested positive for the virus and 120 students were directed to quarantine. That compares to 20 cases during the entire first half of the school year.
The number of COVID-19 cases at Rosewood Magnet School more than doubled between Jan. 8 and Jan. 14 as six students and three staff members tested positive for the virus. Another 78 students and one staff member quarantined.
Rosewood Magnet had four cases during the first half of the school year, three students and one staff member. Those cases caused 19 students and a staff member to quarantine.
Looking back 10 days, since schools reopened Jan. 5 for the second semester, a total of 43 students and 13 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19.
Less than two weeks into the second semester, the 43 student cases represent a 33 percent increase in total infections, compared to the 130 positive cases during the first half of the year.
With the January surge, a total of 173 students have tested positive for COVID-19 this school year.
The 13 staff cases since Jan. 5 also represent a 33 percent increase, compared to the 39 cases during the first half of the year. A total of 52 staff members have tested positive for the virus this school year.
Another 420 students and five staff members have quarantined so far during the second semester, compared to 1,344 students and 30 staff members during the first semester. Altogether, 1,764 students and 35 staff members have quarantined this school year.