All 5th-grade classes at Florida school going virtual due to numerous COVID cases, quarantined students

GLADES COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — An elementary school in Glades County is shifting all of its fifth-grade classes to virtual learning due to what the district calls a large number of COVID-19 cases and quarantined students.

Glades County Schools announced the move to virtual learning on Facebook on Thursday evening. According to the announcement, virtual learning will start Monday for fifth-grade students at West Glades Elementary School. They are scheduled to return to in-person learning on Sept. 7.

“We apologize for any inconvenience that this might create for your families,” the district said. “It is very important for us to keep students as safe as possible.”

The post from the district did not say exactly how many students have tested positive for COVID nor how many are quarantined.

As of 3 p.m. Thursday, Hillsborough County Schools reported 2,231 total cases of COVID in the school district. A total of 12,312 students and staff members — or 5.13% of the district — are required to isolate because they are either COVID-positive or have been exposed to the virus, according to the district’s COVID-19 dashboard.

Hillsborough County voted Wednesday to approve a mask mandate in the district with a limited medical exemption for an opt-out that parents could request.