HOLMES BEACH – One Anna Maria Elementary (AME) School student has tested positive for COVID-19, according to the School District of Manatee County’s Nov. 2 COVID update.
It is the first COVID-positive case reported at the elementary school in Holmes Beach, according to the school district’s online COVID-19 dashboard.
When contacted Friday, AME Principal Jackie Featherston confirmed the positive test and provided some additional details.
“We did have four students and a teacher that will need to quarantine as a precaution because they happened to have a little closer contact with this student,” Featherston said.
Featherston was asked if the COVID-positive student’s classroom remains in use.
“We relocated the classroom before the kids even got in the room yesterday morning. We relocated the classroom to the auditorium. Our custodial staff went in and thoroughly cleaned and sanitized the classroom before the remainder of the students could return there and we’ll have a substitute for the teacher for the next couple weeks,” Featherston said.
Featherston said the positive COVID test was reported on Thursday.
“All of this occurred yesterday. The families of the individual students that had to quarantine were notified yesterday. They got a letter from the health department and instructions. Yesterday evening, a message went out to all our families in the entire school, to let them know that we did have a COVID-positive case,” Featherston said.
In regard to this being AME’s first known COVID case, Featherston said, “It happens. You can’t control what exposure others might have on the outside. We know it wasn’t something that occurred at school. They had another family member that started feeling sick and got tested. Mom did the right thing and she didn’t take any chances. She took her children to get tested and one that happens to be one of our students ended up testing positive even though she didn’t have any symptoms or anything. They did everything they were supposed to do. It’s just one of those things that happen sometimes,” Featherston said.
When contacted Friday, Michael Barber, the school district’s communications, family and community engagement director, said, “We have been in school 12 weeks and this is the school’s first case. I think that says a lot about the safety protocols being practiced at the school and how the Anna Maria Island community is taking the safety measures seriously.”
According to the school district’s COVID-19 dashboard, six new positive cases had been reported districtwide as of Thursday, Nov. 5, with 208 positive cases reported among students and staff districtwide since the school year began on Aug. 17.
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