Marion County Public Schools reported over 1,000 positive COVID-19 cases and 1,800 quarantines during the last week of school.
The new figures were released as part of the Marion County Public Schools weekly COVID-19 report, covering January 15 to January 21.
The data shows that 830 students and 184 employees tested positive for COVID-19, and 1,843 students and employees were quarantined after having direct contact with someone who tested positive.
During the previous week (January 8 to January 14), 698 students and 172 employees tested positive for COVID-19, and there were 2,219 quarantines.
There were nearly 30 elementary schools with COVID-19 positive students throughout the county, including Eighth Street Elementary, Oakcrest Elementary, Marion Oaks Elementary, Emerald Shores Elementary, Belleview Elementary, and Dunnellon Elementary, among others.
In November of 2021, the Florida Department of Health announced that the COVID-19 vaccine is available for children between the ages of 5 to 11.
Marion County Public Schools announced in October of 2021 that face coverings are optional in all of the county’s public schools.