Manatee district reports more than three dozen COVID-19 cases since start of school year

Manatee County public schools have reported 40 cases of COVID-19 since the return of students on Aug. 17.

The number of cases was revealed in a newly launched COVID-19 dashboard. Found at www.manateeschools.net, the dashboard listed 38 cases among 22 traditional schools. The Bradenton Herald also verified two cases at public charter schools.

District spokesman Mike Barber unveiled the dashboard in a news release on Thursday evening. Before this week, the district refused to provide the specific number of cases in local schools, citing privacy concerns.

“In balancing privacy concerns with the public’s need to know, we have determined that providing a dashboard of confirmed cases by school still protects confidentiality while providing important information related to specific schools,” the release states.

In response to a follow-up question, Barber said the dashboard was similar to the reporting tools used in Hillsborough and Polk counties. Neither report the number of people exposed to the confirmed cases in local schools.

The term “direct exposure” describes close and prolonged contact with an infected person, meaning less than six feet of separation for at least 15 minutes. District guidance states that employees and students should isolate and monitor their symptoms for 14 days after exposure to a COVID-19 case.

At least 22 traditional schools in Manatee County have now reported COVID-19 cases since the start of school on Aug. 17. A majority also reported an untold number of exposures.

According to the school district, there were cases at the following campuses:

• Ballard Elementary — two cases.
• Bayshore Elementary — one case.
• Blackburn Elementary — two cases.
• Braden River Middle — one case.
• Gullett Elementary — one case.
• Harvey Elementary — two cases.
• Lakewood Ranch High — one case.
• Lincoln Memorial Academy — one case.
• Manatee High School — four cases.
• Manatee Technical College, all campuses — five cases.
• Mills Elementary — one case.
• Moody Elementary — one case.
• Nolan Middle — two cases.
• Palma Sola Elementary — two cases.
• Palmetto Elementary — one case.
• Palmetto High — two cases.
• Parrish Community High — one case.
• Samoset Elementary — two cases.
• Sugg Middle — one case.
• Tara Elementary — two cases.
• Williams Elementary — two cases.
• Willis Elementary — one case.

The Bradenton Herald also confirmed cases at Manatee School For the Arts and Rowlett Academy for Arts and Communication. Barber previously confirmed that charter schools are responsible for tracking their own cases.

Manatee High School and Barbara A. Harvey Elementary School both reported their cases to families on Wednesday evening.

“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 elementary school said in its message. “Our campus will be completely cleaned and prepared for school to resume for students and staff tomorrow morning.”

“Most importantly, 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 until you are cleared by your school to return,” the message continued.

This story was originally published September 3, 2020 at 4:10 PM.