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<p>Beaufort County School District (BCSD) will be able to suspend Test-to-Stay and quarantines once schools have had two consecutive weeks with less than 10 percent of all students and staff absent due to COVID-19 cases, according to DHEC’s updated School and Childcare Exclusion List. The school district made this announcement in a Wednesday, Feb. 23 news release.</p>
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<p>As per DHEC, the first two-week period ends Monday, February 28. As such, BCSD began implementing this change on a school-by-school basis starting Tuesday, March 1.</p>
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<p>“I am pleased to report that no district school currently has more than 10% of its students and staff absent due to testing positive for COVID-19,” BCSD Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said in the news release. “And, we are hopeful that this trend will continue.”</p>
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<p>Once Test-to-Stay and quarantine are suspended on March 1, DHEC has directed that contact tracing, testing, and masking of close contacts without symptoms no longer be required.</p>
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<p>However, if a school that has suspended Test-to-Stay or quarantine has two consecutive weeks with 10 percent or more of students and staff testing positive for COVID-19, DHEC requires that Test-to-Stay and other quarantine requirements be reinstated. This will be determined on a school-by-school basis.</p>
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<p>DHEC’s requirements for isolation when students or staff test positive for COVID-19 remain the same. Additionally, DHEC continues to require that students and staff exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms be excluded from school/work. If a district student or staff member is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, families/employees are encouraged to contact the school nurse or fill out the afterhours reporting form.</p>
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