WTXL Tallahassee | December 16, 2020
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — The Florida Education Association sent a letter asking Governor Ron DeSantis to prioritize teachers in distributing the coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday.
In the letter, FEA stated that inoculating teachers immediately will decrease community spread and ensure “instructional continuity.”
It is clear from the number of educators and students who have had to isolate at home because of illness or exposure, that our schools remain a source of community spread of COVID-19. With students expected to return to in-person instruction in ever-increasing numbers at the start of the second semester, it is paramount that they state stay ahead of any potential increase of COVID-19 in our schools and on our college and university campuses.
Florida Education Association
As reported on FEA’s Safe Schools report, since commissioner Corcoran’s July 5 Reopening Order:
- 20 Florida educators and their family members have died from COVID-19
- 9 students in the state of Florida have died from COVID-19
- 56,083 Florida school-age children, K-12, have tested positive for COVID-19 since Aug. 10, when the first schools opened in the state.
- 9,106 Florida higher education students and staff who’ve tested positive for COVID-19.
- 13 confirmed full-school closings since the first Florida schools started to reopen on Aug. 10.
- 901 confirmed classroom closings and quarantines since the first Florida schools started to reopen on Aug. 10
At least 36 Leon County Schools teachers have quit since August 1, citing fears from the pandemic.
