Two schools in Manatee County report COVID-19 cases and exposures. One was a repeat

A local high school has joined the list of campuses with COVID-19 cases and exposures, while an elementary school reported its second case since the return of students.

Lakewood Ranch High School, 5500 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, reported “a case of COVID-19” and “direct exposures” to the infected person, according to the message sent to parents on Saturday.

For the second time, Ballard Elementary School, 912 18th St. W. in Bradenton, reported a COVID-19 case and “direct exposures” to the infected person. The recent message was sent to parents and employees on Sunday, and a similar message was published on Aug. 18, according to the school district.

“Anyone who had Direct Exposure to the confirmed case is being contacted this weekend and will be kept home to isolate for 14 days from the last date of known exposure, in accordance with CDC and Florida Department of Health protocols,” both messages said. “The confirmed case is also isolated away from school in accordance with those same protocols.”

“In addition, a portion of the campus is being sanitized with a disinfectant that is used in addition to the cleaning and sanitization done by the school’s custodial staff on a daily basis,” the messages continued.

District spokesman Mike Barber provided the school notifications on Monday afternoon, in response to a request from the Bradenton Herald. The update did not specify the number of people exposed at either campus.

The school district provided that data for a brief period before the return of students, but recent updates were more vague. In an email on Aug. 7, after the return of teachers and paraprofessionals, the district spokesman provided the number of cases and exposures at each site.

According to the past statement, five district schools and offices had reported cases between Aug. 3-7:

• Samoset Elementary: An employee tested positive and exposed six co-workers.

• Ballard Elementary: An employee tested positive and exposed one co-worker.

• Harllee Center: An employee tested positive and exposed one co-worker.

• School Support Center: An employee tested positive and exposed one co-worker.

• Buffalo Creek Middle School: An employee tested positive and exposed three co-workers. In this case, Barber said the exposures happened on July 30, before educators returned to campus.

On Wednesday, Aug. 12, the Bradenton Herald learned of a case at Palmetto High School. When a reporter asked for more information, Barber said the district would provide a weekly update on Fridays. He refused to provide details until the scheduled update.

When the district issued its update on Friday, Aug. 14, it was devoid of the usual numbers. It said several cases were reported between Aug. 10-14, but it no longer provided the number of cases or exposures at each site:

• Bayshore High — There was a confirmed case(s). There were no direct exposure(s).
• Buffalo Creek Middle — There was a confirmed case(s). There were direct exposure(s).
• Manatee Technical College — There was a confirmed case(s). There were direct exposure(s).
• Palmetto High — There was a confirmed case(s). There were direct exposure(s).

The district continued to provide similar updates in response to questions from local reporters, withholding the number of people affected. When asked if the district would provide the number of infected and exposed people on Aug. 19, two days after the return of students, Barber responded in an email.

“The information we provided is in accordance with (HIPAA) and the Florida Department of Health,” he wrote, citing a federal law on private health information.

On Friday the district again changed its method for publicly reporting COVID-19 cases, according to an email from Barber. He said the district would no longer distribute a weekly update to reporters, and that daily reports would be handled “just like public records requests.”

“If you want a daily update, it must be requested,” he wrote.

The Bradenton Herald requested an update at approximately 9:15 a.m. on Monday and the district provided the information on Lakewood Ranch High and Ballard Elementary by 3 p.m.

At least 19 Manatee County schools have now reported COVID-19 cases since the start of school on Aug. 17:

• Ballard Elementary School (two reports).
• Tara Elementary School.
• Willis Elementary School.
• Moody Elementary School.
• Bayshore Elementary School.
• Blackburn Elementary School.
• Gullett Elementary School.
• Palma Sola Elementary School (two reports).
• Palmetto Elementary School (no reported exposures).
• Samoset Elementary School.
• W.D. Sugg Middle School (no reported exposures).
• Parrish Community High School.
• Manatee High School (two reports).
• Palmetto High School.
• Lakewood Ranch High School.
• Manatee Technical College (Main Campus).
• Rowlett Academy for Arts and Communication.
• Lincoln Memorial Academy.
• Manatee School For the Arts (no reported exposures).

“If a student or staff member feels sick, believes they have symptoms or has had a test for COVID-19, please stay home until you are symptom free or you receive a negative test result,” the recent notifications said.

This story was originally published August 31, 2020 at 4:18 PM.