From staff reports
Beginning this week, Beaufort County School District has started implementing DHEC’s Test to Stay (TTS) program so employees and students who are identified as close contacts can continue teaching and learning and avoid quarantine if the following criteria are met:
They have no symptoms
Must wear a mask through Day 10
Take one COVID-19 test between days 5-7 and provide the results via the DHEC Attestation Form to the school before Day 8
Although schools do not administer COVID-19 tests, there are two options for testing:
At-home rapid-test: The District has an available a supply of free at-home rapid-test kits from DHEC that are available for parents to test their students. Both employees and parents can request a test kit from the school nurse.
Test at a community health venue (e.g. doctor’s office, pharmacy, DHEC): Submit the test result to the school.
Required test results for employees and students must be provided to their school prior to Day 8. If the employee or student develops symptoms at any time, they must isolate immediately, report symptoms to the school, and await further guidance.
Steps to take if an individual is exposed and has no symptoms:
If an employee or student is exposed to someone who has tested positive to COVID-19 and they have no symptoms* (regardless of vaccination status), below are the steps to follow as required by DHEC:
- Notify the school nurse if deemed a close contact outside of the school environment by using the BCSD Online COVID Reporting form.
- Continue to attend school unless symptoms* develop
- Wear a mask through Day 10A. If the employee/student is NOT vaccinated and/or was not positive within the last 90 days, DHEC requires they get a COVID-19 test between days 5-7 and complete steps 4 and 5 below.
- B. If the student/employee is fully/maximally vaccinated or has documentation of a positive test for COVID-19 within the last 90 days, they do NOT have to complete steps 4 and 5.
- Administer a COVD-19 test on Day 5.
- Submit test results to the school prior to Day 8.A. If negative, submit test result to the school via the DHEC Attestation Form prior to Day 8 and continue to attend school while wearing a mask through Day 10.
- B. If positive, isolate immediately, submit test result to the school, and await further guidance.
For more information about DHEC’s TTS program, please see: https://bit.ly/34F38N2.
