SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – As coronavirus cases and hospitalizations rise in Central Florida, Seminole County Public Schools will require all employees to wear masks beginning Friday.
In recent weeks, Seminole County leaders have been concerned as COVID-19 cases have been surging. The district said campus visitors will not be allowed on any campus from Aug. 10-24. Any vendor or contractor visiting a school in the district will also be required to wear a mask.
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Seminole County Emergency Manager Alan Harris said of all patients hospitalized in Seminole County, more than 35% are COVID positive and nearly all are unvaccinated.
“The silver lining in the incredible surge that we’ve been experiencing is more people are wanting to get vaccines.”
Masks for students are optional, but SCPS encourages parents to have their child wear a mask at school.
District leaders are also hoping to get the vaccine into more arms through a series of clinics at high schools next week.
“What we’ve seen when we do these types of events in schools is it’s not only the youth that are getting it, but the parents that might be on the fence, it’s the whole family that are getting the vaccines,” Harris said.
More than 42,000 people in Seminole County have tested positive for COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic.
Orange County Public Schools will also require employees to wear masks to start the school year.