For the first time since classes began, these Manatee schools reported COVID-19 cases
Three schools have reported their first COVID-19 cases since classes began last month, while a local high school made its second appearance on the list, according to an update from the School District of Manatee County.
Published on Friday afternoon, the report listed five new cases between four local schools, including two schools that managed to avoid exposures and quarantines.
Buffalo Creek Middle School, 7320 69th St. E. in Palmetto, reported two exposures to one student who tested positive for COVID-19.
McNeal Elementary, 6325 Lorraine Road in Lakewood Ranch, had no reported exposures or quarantines after an employee tested positive.
The same was true at Palm View K-8 School, 6025 Bayshore Road in Palmetto, where one employee tested positive for COVID-19. No employees or students were exposed to the case, according to Friday’s update.
It was the first time Palm View K-8. McNeal Elementary and Buffalo Creek Middle appeared on the list.
Lakewood Ranch High School made its second appearance after reporting one positive student, one positive employee and nine related quarantines in the latest update. The campus, 5500 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., first appeared on the list with one case and 23 exposures last month.
The term “exposure” means someone had close and prolonged contact with an infected person (less than six feet of separation for at least 15 minutes), and it requires the exposed student or employee to quarantine for 14 days.
A majority of schools had few exposures, if any, on Friday’s update. During the last school week, between Sep. 14 and Friday, there were 14 cases and 93 exposures at local campuses.
Since the start of classes on Aug. 17, there have been 68 cases at 33 schools, along with 877 resulting exposures and quarantines. The district report does not include charter schools, which report directly to the county health department.
According to the school district, cases were discovered at:
- Abel Elementary: 18 exposures and two positive employees between reports on Sep. 8 and Sep. 15.
Ballard Elementary: 29 exposures, one positive student and one positive employee between reports on Aug. 18 and Aug. 31.
Bashaw Elementary: 25 people quarantined after exposure to one student, Sep. 9.
Bayshore Elementary: three people quarantined after exposure to one employee, Aug. 20.
Blackburn Elementary: 12 people quarantined after exposure to two students, Aug. 24.
Braden River High: 18 exposures and three positive students between reports on Sep. 4, Sep. 9 and Sep. 16.
Braden River Middle: 17 exposures, one positive employee and three positive students between reports on Sep. 2, Sep. 8 and Sep. 10.
Buffalo Creek Middle: two people quarantined after exposure to one student, Sep. 18.
Gullett Elementary: 16 people quarantined after exposure to one student, Aug. 25.
Harvey Elementary: 100 exposures, one positive employee and three positive students between reports on Sep. 2, Sep. 8 and Sep. 15.
Johnson K-8: Ten people quarantined after exposure to one student, Sep. 11.
Lakewood Ranch High: 32 people quarantined, two positive employees and one positive student between reports on Aug. 31 and Sep. 18.
Lee Middle: two people quarantined after exposure to one employee, Sep. 4.
Lincoln Memorial Academy: 27 people quarantined after exposure to one student, Aug. 21.
Manatee High: 75 exposures, three positive students and two positive employees between reports on Aug. 21, Aug. 25, Sep. 2 and Sep. 15.
Manatee Technical College, all campuses: nine people quarantined after exposure to five employees, Aug. 19.
McNeal Elementary: no exposures to one positive employee, Sep. 18.
Mills Elementary: 14 people quarantined after exposure to one student, Sep. 3.
Moody Elementary: 32 people quarantined after exposure to one student, Aug. 21.
Nolan Middle: 45 exposures, one positive student and one positive employee between reports on Aug. 31 and Sep. 1.
Palm View K-8: no exposures to one positive employee, Sep. 18.
Palma Sola Elementary: 38 exposures, one positive employee and two positive students between reports on Aug. 25, Aug. 26 and Sep. 17.
Palmetto Elementary: five exposures, one positive student and one positive employee between reports on Aug. 25 and Sep. 14.
Palmetto High: 149 exposures and two positive employees between reports on Aug. 27 and Aug. 31.
Parrish Community High: 13 exposures and three positive students between reports on Aug. 18, Sep. 8 and Sep. 16.
Prine Elementary: three people quarantined after exposure to one student, Sep. 8.
Samoset Elementary: 38 people quarantined after exposure to two students, Aug. 26.
Southeast High: 31 exposures, one positive student and two positive employees between reports on Sep. 4, Sep. 8 and Sep. 15.
Sugg Middle: no exposures to one positive student, Aug. 20.
Tara Elementary: 15 exposures and three positive students between reports on Aug. 19 and Sep. 11.
Williams Elementary: 73 exposures, two positive employees and one positive student between reports on Aug. 18, Aug. 31 and Sep. 4.
Willis Elementary: eight people quarantined after exposure to one student, Aug. 21.
Witt Elementary: 18 people quarantined after exposure to one student, Sep. 16.
Exposures point to a breakdown in social distancing, a key safety measure in the fight against COVID-19, and they force local students and school employees into quarantine.
While local schools were creeping toward 1,000 exposures on Friday, district officials have said that other measures — including face coverings, hand-washing and desk partitions — were helping prevent large outbreaks or school closures.
This story was originally published September 21, 2020 at 11:48 AM.