FORT MILL, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is offering a “Test-to-Stay” program to allow some students, teachers and staff members who are exposed to COVID-19 to continue in-person learning.
On Sunday, DHEC expanded its recommendation to include childcare facilities. It also updated its COVID-19 guidance for K-12 students, saying they may remove their masks as needed for extracurricular activities or sports once they have tested negative on day five or later. They must continue to mask at all other times at school through the 10-day period.
DHEC no longer strongly recommends universal mask requirements in schools but the health department strongly encourages everyone to wear a mask.
“We also recognize two specific scenarios in which masking is most needed: when the school’s surrounding community has substantial or high transmission; and when there is an outbreak in a class,” DHEC said.
The program is designed to keep students and teachers in the classroom, rather than in quarantine. It allows those exposed to be monitored and tested while at school.
“Two viral tests should be performed at least 24-hours apart within 7-days of exposure. One of these tests must be done between 5 and 7 days after exposure. A mask must be worn through day 10,” DHEC said about the program.
“The CDC started the test to stay program options during the winter break when schools were out of school,” the agency said.
Channel 9′s South Carolina reporter Tina Terry learned in January that some local school districts said they’re struggling to implement the program.
A spokesperson for Fort Mill Schools said it is not participating in the program right now because of the well-known shortage of COVID-19 testing supplies and not having the staff required to test and track those students.
“We looked at the test to stay option. We are currently not going to be implementing it at this time strictly because of the issues with current testing going on right now. The back log with testing, getting results back on time, as well as the logistical issues with tracking that system,” said Joe Burke, with Fort Mill Schools.
Currently, staff members in the district already have their hands full, managing nearly 300 positive students and teacher cases.
“There’s a lot of staff and manpower that has to follow and track and generate reports to make sure they are identified as close contacts,” Burke said.
Leaders with Rock Hill Schools and York Schools have no plans to participate in the program at this time. Chesterfield County Schools said, “Until we can get a reliable source of testing, we are not considering.”
“That does hurt everybody. The kids don’t get to learn. The parents don’t get to work,” said Joni Thomas, who is a grandparent of a student.
Lancaster Schools and Chesterfield County Schools are still looking into the program.
(WATCH BELOW: COVID-19: CDC endorses ‘test-to-stay’ policies in schools)
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