13 Miami-Dade School Employees Have Died In Relation To COVID Since August

Miami-Dade County Public Schools Begin New School Year

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*Editor's note: A correction has been made to clarify that all 13 individuals were unvaccinated.

A total of 13 school employees from Miami-Dade County Public Schools have died in relation to COVID-19 since mid-August, the district and local teacher union confirmed to CNN on Tuesday (September 7).

The 13 individuals included four teachers, one security monitor, one cafeteria worker and seven school bus drivers, all of whom were unvaccinated, according to United Teachers of Dade President Karla Hernandez-Mats.

"These were extraordinary educators and people, and their loss is being felt throughout the community," Hernandez-Mats said.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools' dashboard tracks cases within the district, but does not include deaths, all of which have occurred since August 16.

A spokesperson for the district told CNN they were made aware of the 13 deaths through family members who reported them personally.

"The loss of any of our employees is one that is always profoundly felt as every member of this organization is considered a part of Miami-Dade County Public Schools family," the district said in a statement. "We extend our hearts and prayers to the loved ones of those whose lives have recently been lost."

The Miami-Dade County Public Schools dashboard confirmed 147 students and 186 employees have tested positive for COVID-19 since it began tracking cases for the 2021-22 school year on August 13, 10 days prior to the district beginning classes.

Last month, three teachers and a teacher's assistant from a county that voted to require masks in schools and defy Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' ban on mask mandates died from COVID-19 within a two-day span.

Broward Teachers Union president Anna Fusco confirmed the deaths to NBC Miami on August 12. Fusco said the teachers were all on summer break when they contracted the coronavirus.

The Broward County Public Schools board voted to require masks, despite Gov. DeSantis' ban on mask mandates in the state of Florida.


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