ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Barbara Jenkins told employees and parents Monday that due to a spike in COVID-19 cases, all adults will be required to wear masks in district buildings and vehicles until further notice.

In her letter to staff, Jenkins said employees had only been "encouraged" to wear masks as recently as this past weekend, but with the surge of infections precipitated by the highly contagious omicron variant, the situation changed dramatically Monday.

"Today, we observed a severe increase in sick leave call-outs from school-based staff," she wrote. "After further consultation with medical experts and out of an abundance of caution for employees and students, I have determined that face masks will be mandatory for all adults in OCPS buildings and vehicles while in the presence of others during the school day."

"Such efforts are an attempt to preserve our workforce and keep schools open, and will be in effect beginning tomorrow through the end of January," she added. 

That mask requirement only applies to adults. Jenkins said that it is strongly encouraged that masks be worn by students but stressed that they cannot require them because of state law.

Gov. Ron DeSantis banned Florida's school districts from mandating masks last summer. Some districts in the fall chose to defy the governor and require students mask up, but that is not something that has been seen yet in the new year.

Jenkins did not say exactly how many staff members called out because of COVID-19 on Monday.

She said experts had advised her that COVID-19 cases are expected to decline during the next few weeks, so staff will be updated on the situation going forward before Jan. 31.

In a message to parents on Monday evening, Olympia High School Principal Christy Gorberg said that 52 peolpe "associated" with the school tested positive for COVID-19. 

"Parents of confirmed-positive students have been notified their child is not to return to school until they have completed their isolation period," she stated. 

Gorberg urged that anyone not feeling well or with symptoms and waiting for results or who has tested positive for COVID to not come to school. 

In a separate message to parents, Jenkins said, "While we are not encouraging parents to do so, if you choose to keep your child home due to health concerns, the absence will be marked excused if your child keeps up with their assignments. If you choose to keep your child home, please reach out to your child’s teacher to receive weekly assignments."

As omicron continues to spread rapidly throughout Central Florida and across the United States, the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics said slowing the spread will mean masking up, good hand washing and where eligible, getting children vaccinated.

Related: Where to get a no-cost COVID test in Central Florida