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Gainesville High School Class Quarantined, School Remains Open

Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Florida. (Max Chesnes/WUFT News)
Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Florida. (Max Chesnes/WUFT News)

Yesterday, a positive COVID test at Gainesville High School resulted in one of the classrooms being quarantined.

Under school district protocols, an entire class is quarantined if there are three or more positive cases in that class within 14 days.

In the quarantined Gainesville High class, all but five students from that class had already been quarantined after significant contact with a positive case.

The reported number of cases at GHS and all other Alachua County public schools don't currently meet the criteria for closing an entire school — a precaution that would only be taken if 10% of all classes in a middle or high school or three or more classes in an elementary school had to be quarantined, and only after consultation with the Scientific Medical Advisory Committee.

Alachua County School District said they have been working daily with SMAC, a group of medical professionals from the University of Florida.

When a positive COVID-19 test is reported to the district, it is then reviewed by SMAC, who in turn advises which next steps are necessary in order to prevent any further spread of the disease.

According to SMAC and the Health Department, the confirmed cases are primarily individual among elementary and middle schools, with increased numbers among high schools in relation to sports teams. A majority of the district's cases have been reportedly traced to team sports and out-of-school social events.
All protocols can be found on the district's COVID-19 site.

Jason is a reporter for WUFT News who can be reached by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.