Aug 17, 2021 - COVID

Where Tampa Bay's schools stand on COVID

Selene San Felice

Illustration of a school bus wearing a mask. — Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

Students and staff at Manatee County public schools are now required to wear masks — with an opt-out option, should parents choose.

Debate at the Manatee County School Board's emergency meeting Monday went on for more than three hours.
The mandate will go through Aug. 25 and most likely be extended at the next school board meeting.

Why it matters: Last week — Manatee’s first of the school year — saw 177 students and employees test positive for COVID-19.

Last year’s first week only saw 17 cases.

Zoom out: In Hillsborough County, the school board will hold an emergency meeting tomorrow to address its spike in cases.

As of yesterday, 5,599 students and 316 employees are in quarantine or isolation for either testing positive or a close contact, per WFLA.

Meanwhile: Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge is being treated at Blake Medical Center with a breakthrough COVID case, the Bradenton Herald reports.

Van Ostenbridge voted to repeal mandatory coronavirus safety measures in county buildings and has denounced guidance from public health officials.

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Where Tampa Bay's schools stand on COVID

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