DHEC Guidance August 2022

  • 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 symptoms of COVID-19 or test positive are still required to isolate at home and report test results and symptoms to the COVID call center.  The recommended isolation period is 10 days from onset of symptoms or date of positive test.  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 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 or display symptoms of 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

    • A mask MUST be worn days 6-10. If a mask is not worn, a 10-day isolation must be observed at home.

     

     

     

    Criteria for Returning to school/work if experiencing symptoms of COVID-19:

    • Test negative for COVID-19 and symptoms are improving or provide a physician note stating student/staff is cleared to return to school.  Negative COVID test results must be sent to the COVID call center email covid@rhmail.org

     

    OR

     

    • Meets ALL of the following criteria (if not tested for COVID-19):

      • Isolate at least 5 days since symptoms started 

      • 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

      • A mask MUST be worn days 6-10. If a mask is not worn, a 10-day isolation must be observed at home.

     

    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 unless the school has identified an outbreak of cases in a cohort/classroom.  

     

    Guidance related to positive or symptomatic cases in a cohort/classroom has not changed.  DHEC still recommends excluding close contacts to positive students within a classroom, athletic team, or other cohort if 20 percent of that group is absent, or sent home for experiencing symptoms or testing positive, in a 72 hour period. 

     

    There are 3 exceptions to quarantine for close contacts during an outbreak:

    • Individual is up-to-date on recommended vaccine

    • Individual has tested positive for COVID within the last 90 days and is able to provide test results

    • Individual is enrolled in the Test-To-Stay program.