On January 28, the Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees sent a letter asking SC DHEC to match the quarantine guidelines for asymptomatic students to those guidelines currently in place for asymptomatic employees in order to minimize student absences due to quarantine.
DHEC has encouraged implementation of the Test-to-Stay program in schools; however, the greatest obstacle to implementing a Test-to-Stay program has been the limited supply of rapid tests, which have been required for the program under current DHEC published guidance. Thanks to the action taken by the Board, GCS received confirmation from DHEC on January 31 that PCR tests, in addition to antigen and at-home rapid tests, can now be used for the Test-to-Stay program. With this update, GCS can implement Test-to-Stay effective immediately utilizing the existing, free COVID-19 testing sites.
This means that starting February 1, students identified as close contact exposures can continue to attend school and avoid quarantine as long as they have no symptoms*, wear a mask through Day 10, and if they are NOT vaccinated and/or were not positive within the last 90 days, they must get tested on Day 5 and provide the test result prior to Day 8 to their school.
Starting February 1, parents will receive guidance for their students that includes the exact dates that students must obtain a test, provide results, and wear a mask. Please note that students who received quarantine guidance prior to February 1, may return to school immediately if they have no symptoms, but parents will need to confirm with their school which date they must obtain a test in order to remain at school. Schools do not administer tests. Required test results for students must be provided to their school location prior to Day 8. If the student develops symptoms* at any time, they must isolate immediately, report symptoms to the school, and await further District-issued guidance.
Steps to Take If a Student is Exposed and Has No Symptoms:
If your 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.
(**Please note that the following does not apply to students who are household close contacts and CANNOT quarantine from the positive case.)
- Notify the school so they can submit a questionnaire
- Continue to attend school unless symptoms* develop
- Wear a mask through Day 10
- If the student is NOT vaccinated and/or was not positive within the last 90 days, they must get a COVID-19 test on Day 5 and complete steps 4 and 5 below.
- If the student 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 below.
- Get a COVID-19 test on Day 5
- Submit test results prior to Day 8:
- If negative, submit test result to the school prior to Day 8 and continue to attend school while wearing a mask through Day 10
- If positive, isolate immediately, submit test result to the school, and await further District-issued guidance
**For students who are household close contacts and CANNOT quarantine from the positive case, they must quarantine for 10 days, may return on Day 11 with a parent note confirming they have had no symptoms*, and must wear a mask through Day 15.
Testing & Results
There are 3 ways that students can get a test (PCR, rapid antigen from a lab, or at-home rapid test) on Day 5 and submit test results to their school location prior to Day 8:
- At-home rapid-test – Submit the DHEC Attestation Form to the school (English)
- Free GCS testing site (Mako Medical) – Test results will be sent directly to the email address provided during preregistration, and they will automatically upload to the GCS system
- Test at a non-GCS testing site – Submit the test result to the school
If the student develops symptoms* at any time, they must isolate immediately, report symptoms to the school, and await further District-issued guidance.
*Symptoms of illness during quarantine period include:
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- New or worsening cough
- New loss of taste or smell
- Fever of at least 100.4
- OR any two or more of the following symptoms during the 10 days after an exposure:
- New onset of severe headache • Fatigue • Persistent or worsening sore throat • Congestion or runny nose • Muscle pain or body aches • Nausea/Vomiting • Diarrhea
Visit greenville.k12.sc.us for more information.
Prepared by Greenville County Schools.