HOLMES BEACH – Almost two months into the 2021-22 school year, Anna Maria Elementary School is now reporting three consecutive weeks with no COVID-19 cases among students or staff.
AME is also one of only two schools in Manatee County that has had no staff member test positive for the coronavirus this school year, the other being Jain Middle School. Anna Maria Elementary has reported 13 student cases this school year.
As of Friday, Oct. 1, there were seven students reporting COVID-19 positive tests in Manatee County and no staff cases. In contrast, more than 200 students were positive on Sept. 1. A total of 2,468 students and 358 staff members countywide have tested positive since the start of this school year.
While there is a mask mandate in Manatee County, it offers an opt-out clause that allows students and parents to make the choice to wear masks while in school. This opt-out clause keeps Manatee County in compliance with a Florida law that bans mask mandates without an opt-out clause.
As of Sept. 26, Sarasota County Schools dropped its mask mandate – which had no opt-out clause – due to a decline in students and staff testing positive for COVID-19. Sarasota County saw the positivity rate drop below 8%, but if it rises beyond 10%, the county’s policy calls for mandatory masks to resume.
COVID-19 procedures in Manatee County schools
- All students and employees who are sick or who have symptoms will be sent home until they are symptom-free.
- Temperature checks will be taken daily for all employees and randomly for students.
- Reinforce and practice proper handwashing techniques among students and staff.
- Provide and encourage the use of hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Deep clean and disinfect schools and school buses daily, or in between uses as needed.
- Make every effort to social distance as much as possible in schools.
- District employees visiting schools, other than their own, must wear masks during the school day.
- Provide plastic shields in elementary classrooms and cafeterias where possible.
- All employees will answer COVID-related questions daily upon arriving at work.
- Limit non-essential visitors and volunteers to school campuses.
- Everyone eligible to be vaccinated is strongly encouraged to get vaccinated.