Duval County students head back to school despite surge in omicron cases

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Students in Duval, Clay and Nassau counties are back in the classroom, despite a surge in omicron cases.

St. John’s County students will return on Thursday.

San Pablo Road was busy Tuesday morning as students returned to classes.

Caryn Pflager’s first-grader Sameul. couldn’t wait. He goes to Alimacani Elementary School.

“He had a homework assignment actually, it said, ‘name the five things that you most look forward to when you come back’ and he said ‘seeing my teacher, helping my teacher out, doing hard things,’ which I liked hearing. He likes to be challenged,” Pflager said.

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Across the street at River City Science Academy Intracoastal, Bernicia Womack dropped off her daughter. This local mom admits having kids back in class is a little concerning.

‘It is kind of nerve-wracking, a little bit sometimes when there’s already so many different things, and every time they get sick, it’s like, ‘oh my gosh, they have COVID.’ No, they don’t. There’s a cold still. There’s a flu,” Womack said.

In Duval County Public Schools, there are several temporary measures to lessen the spread of COVID-19.

Visitors heading into Alimacani Elementary for example, must wear a face mask and school employees must also be masked up when working with students.

Educators and health experts are pushing for vaccinations among children.

The FDA recently approved the Pfizer booster for students 12 to 15 years old.

Womack said that while her daughter isn’t vaccinated, she still takes several steps to protect her.

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“She actually had her mask on her wrist when we she went to school. And of course, I always make sure that she has hand sanitizer. She’s constantly washing her hands. I tell her don’t touch the doorknobs, you know, areas, common areas where everyone is touching,” Womack said.

Moms like Pflager are confident younger students can stay safe in the classroom if people are responsible.

“You know we try to be responsible with the mask and the social distancing, the hand-washing, all of those things and we need to continue to live life so that’s what we’re doing going back to school,” Pflager said.

You can track COVID-19 cases in Duval County by clicking on the district’s webpage.

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