Lakeland School Takes Precautions For New Omicron Variant

Crystal Lake Elementary School in Lakeland Florida, takes extra precautions to keep students and faculty covid-free with a new Omicron variant spreading from student to student.
It comes as no surprise that Covid-19 has changed our world tremendously.

We shop differently. We go to doctors differently. Even certain states demand the use of masks. But one aspect we overlook sometimes is the impact of Covid throughout school systems.

Crystal Lake has been a neighborhood community partnership school for more than 60 years and sets standards that students will achieve.

Principal Warren says, “That all students can learn and achieve high standards of academic excellence regardless of language, disability, or economic/family situation.”

This community partnership school is aware of the Omicron variant that is spreading. Between Jan. 27 and Feb. 9, there have been 13,145 cases in Polk County alone. 

The elementary school nurse, Mrs. Stephens, stated that “We instill social distance, whether it be the student’s desks and standing in line with other classes. Obviously, with younger students, it is challenging keeping them away from germs, but we work hard to have them wash their hands constantly.”

Nurse Stephens explained the process when there is a student presenting symptoms.

Parents are encouraged to not send their students to school if they are running a fever or sneezing and so on. However, students could not present any symptoms and still have the variant.

Nurse Stephens spoke on the protocol, “We do a 10-day quarantine when a student or faculty member and they will need a negative test result within 48 hours. Along with Crystal Lake Elementary, the Polk County Public Schools are also sticking to their Covid precautions.

Jason Geary, director of public relations for the Polk County Public Schools, said “Polk County Public Schools continues to follow recommendations to help mitigate the spread of COVID. In doing so, the district uses a layered approach.”

Whether the public schools are in Lakeland or Lake Wales, the Polk County School System is implementing the precautions and resources to keep students and faculty safe from the ongoing Omicron variant.