County public schools experienced their worst week of the school year for COVID-19 infections as 22 students and three staff members tested positive.

The 25 cases during the week of Dec. 14 to Dec. 20 were two more than the previous high of 23 during the week of Nov. 9 to Nov. 15, school district records show.

Dec. 14 was the worst day of the school year for COVID-19 as 11 students and two staff members tested positive, while 66 students were directed to quarantine.

The previous high was 10 cases on Nov. 10, when seven students and three staff members tested positive for the virus, records show. That resulted in 96 students and one staff member quarantining.

Overall, a total of 130 students and 39 staff members have been diagnosed with COVID-19 on 21 campuses since the school year started Aug. 24. Another 1,344 students and 30 staff members have been directed to quarantine.

The number of COVID-19 cases in the school district more than tripled in the second quarter, which ended Dec. 18, compared to the first quarter, which ended Oct. 25.

A total of 33 students and six staff members were diagnosed with COVID-19 between Aug. 24 and Oct. 25, records show, while a total of 93 students and 33 staff members tested positive for the virus during the second quarter. 

Sebastian River High and Middle schools were hit particularly hard by COVID-19 between Dec. 14 to Dec. 20.

Six Sebastian River High students tested positive for the virus last week and 41 were directed to quarantine. Overall, 20 students at the school have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and 198 quarantined since Aug. 24.

Six Sebastian River Middle students tested positive for the virus last week and 24 were directed to quarantine. Overall, 12 students and four staff members at the school have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and 71 quarantined.

But the pandemic calmed down at Vero Beach High School and the Freshman Learning Center with just three students testing positive for the virus.

Overall, 31 VBHS students and seven staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. Another 335 students and three staff members have been directed to quarantine.

Vero Beach High dropped out of the top 10 high schools in Florida for total number of COVID-19 cases during the week of Dec. 6 to Dec. 12.