DHEC Guidance August 2023

SCDHEC has provided updated guidelines for exclusion criteria for individuals that are positive or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 as well as guidance for schools during an outbreak of COVID-19.  Rock Hill Schools has made changes to COVID-19 processes based on this guidance.

Positive or Symptomatic Students/Staff 

Any student or staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 are still required to isolate at home and report test results and symptoms to the COVID call center.  The recommended isolation period is 5-10 days from onset of symptoms or date of positive test.  Isolation period is determined by severity of illness.  The district will send notifications to families when there is a positive case in their child’s classroom.

We are still providing free testing at each school for students or staff who have symptoms of COVID-19. Please reach out to your school nurse or the call center to schedule a test.  COVID-19 home test results will not be accepted. 

As outlined in the DHEC School Exclusion List, students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 must be excluded from school/work until all criteria for return are met. 

Criteria for Returning to school/work if POSITIVE for COVID-19:

• Isolate at least 5 days since symptoms started or from date of positive test if no symptoms

• 24 hours since the last fever without using fever-reducing medication 

• Symptoms are significantly improving

• Parent/Staff must complete the Positive Early Return Request Form on the district website

Quarantine, Contact Tracing, Test to Stay 

DHEC guidance no longer requires schools to contact trace and quarantine students or staff for close/household contact to a positive COVID-19 individual.   

DHEC Guidance related to reporting outbreaks of positive or symptomatic cases in a cohort/classroom has not changed.  DHEC defines an outbreak as 20% or more of students/staff within a shared setting are absent or sent home due to COVID-19/respiratory illness within a 72 hour period.