Greenville County Schools is lowering the time students have to quarantine based on updated DHEC COVID-19 guidelines.
The isolation period has been cut from 10 days to five for COVID-positive students who will need to wear a mask from days 6-10. New guidelines just released detail what students will need to in response to a positive test.
For those who’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19, there is no need to isolate if the individual has been vaccinated. For those who haven’t, the isolation time has been reduced to five days with no symptoms and a negative test. DHEC defines close contact for students as coming within 3-6 feet of a COVID-positive individual for at least 15 minutes within a 24-hour time period.
Schools will require a parental note saying there has been an improvement in symptoms and the student hasn’t had a fever in 24 hours without needing to use fever-reducing medications.
DHEC directs people testing positive with a home test to quarantine and stay home, but officials suggest they follow up with a professional test, as home tests do not provide valid medical documentation that would exempt someone from quarantine.
More information is available at the Greenville County Schools website.
Updated guidelines
Those infected should:
- Quarantine for five days following improved symptoms and no fever
- Wear a mask for days 6-10
- Bring/email a note from a parent stating that symptoms have improved
Those exposed to COVID-19 should:
- Wear a mask for 10 days following exposure
- Quarantine for five days if unvaccinated; those vaccinated do not have to quarantine
- Get tested by a medical professional regardless of vaccination status
