VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Officials in Volusia County held a news conference on Friday to update residents on the ongoing fight against COVID-19.
During the news conference leaders explained that even with children back in school, positive cases have not spiked.
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Volusia County Schools went back to school on Aug. 31 with classes offered in schools. As of this week, 60% of the county’s 62,000 students returned to the classroom.
“There was a lot of concern about whether or not we would see a spike in the number of cases falling and returned to school, and thus far we have not, which is very encouraging,” Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joe Smith said.
In Volusia County there are approximately 14 students who have tested positive for the coronavirus. Additionally 5 staff members have also tested positive since the school year began.
New COVID-19 numbers will be released on Wednesday and Friday of each week by the school district.
“As the school year ramps off and maybe the kids get a little more Cavalier we could see an increase in cases. But like I said I’m very pleased to report that we have not seen that yet,” Smith added.
Even with no spike in cases, a group of teachers, staff and parents silently protested outside the school district’s headquarters on Tuesday, demanding change to the COVID-19 response in Volusia County Schools.
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COVID-19 in Volusia County
On Friday, the Florida Department of Health reported 96 new cases of coronavirus in Volusia County, bringing the county’s running total to 10,027.
Volusia County saw an increase in deaths Friday, reporting two additional deaths. Since March, 205 people have died in Volusia County after complications from COVID-19.
The FDOH reported 740 people have required hospitalization in the county, an increase of five patients from the previous report.