Over the weekend, Greenville County Schools issued a statment regarding changes to covid protocols. SCDHEC has issued new requirements that reduce the length of time for COVID-19 isolations and quarantines.
Greenville County Schools are required by law to follow DHEC’s requirements, and the school system has updated their processes accordingly.
The statement released by Media Relations Director Tim Waller says , for students who test positive for COVID-19, the isolation period has been reduced from 10 days to 5 days, if there are no symptoms or symptoms have improved. DHEC requires students to wear a mask for days 6 through 10 when they return to school. In addition, students must provide a parent note confirming that symptoms have improved and there has been no fever in the past 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication.
For students who are exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and who are not vaccinated, the minimum quarantine period has been reduced to 5 days. Quarantine can end after Day 5 if a viral test is negative AND if no symptoms were present during the quarantine period. A PCR or antigen test must be collected no sooner than Day 4. At-home tests will not be accepted. Regardless of vaccination status, DHEC now requires a mask to be worn by exposed students through Day 10 when they return to school. DHEC recommends exposed students get tested on Day 5 as well.
For students who are currently excluded from school based on the previous DHEC quarantine/isolation requirements, updated guidance will be issued individually as soon as possible if applicable. COVID-related materials and detailed information about these changes have been updated on the GCS website.
