In a tragic turn of events, a Florida school district has lost two educators, both in their 40s, to COVID-19 within a short span of days. The surge of the delta variant has severely impacted the state, especially in regions with lower vaccination rates. In recent months, Florida has witnessed a dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases, prompting concern among health officials.
The Indian River County School District confirmed the first death on August 24. Jessica Lee, 42, a fourth-grade teacher at Treasure Coast Elementary, had been battling COVID-19 throughout the summer and was unable to return for the new school year. Her church community mourned her passing, noting that she left behind two children.
Just two days later, on August 26, the district faced another loss with the passing of Olivia Martinez, 45, who taught English and Spanish at Fellsmere Elementary School. Her principal described her as “a vibrant and passionate teacher, truly dedicated to her students.”
This devastating news coincided with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s actions to cut funding from school districts that do not adhere to his prohibition against mask mandates. Recently, he has withheld funds from Alachua County and Broward County, where multiple teachers have succumbed to COVID-19. Despite the ban, some districts have opted to implement mask mandates; Indian River County voted to require masks in its schools, but it is too late for these two educators.
The COVID-19 outbreak continues unabated in Florida, with an average of 16,000 hospitalizations daily, marking the highest levels of the pandemic. The state also reports the highest daily COVID-19 death toll in the country, averaging 262 fatalities. Currently, only about 64% of eligible Floridians have received at least one dose of the vaccine, falling short of the national average of 72%.
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In summary, the Indian River County School District is mourning the loss of two beloved teachers to COVID-19 within days of each other. As the pandemic continues to impact Florida severely, educators and communities are grappling with the heartbreaking consequences of the virus.