Virus cases, quarantines spike in Sumter School District

The rapid spread of the highly contagious omicron variant resulted in the highest positive COVID-19 weekly case total in Sumter School District last week and the highest staff total in quarantine for the school year.

A total of 440 district students and staff tested positive for COVID-19 in the week ending Friday and 184 staff members were directed to quarantine, according to data released Wednesday by the district. The district breakdown for positive virus cases was 361 students and 79 staff.

Additionally, the number of students directed to quarantine spiked to 2,161 in the first week back to school after the Christmas and winter holiday break. The quarantine totals for students and staff from the first week of January include positive virus cases and also "close contacts" after school officials performed contract tracing.

The quarantined student total of 2,161 is the second highest weekly tally this school year and represents about 14.5% of district enrollment.

Also, Shelly Galloway, the district's executive director of communication and community engagement, said Wednesday that an eighth school - Willow Drive Elementary - has shifted to fully remote learning temporarily. Additionally, sixth- and seventh-graders at Chestnut Oaks Middle have moved to fully remote learning. Previously, only the school's eighth-graders were learning from home.

The switches to remote instruction, Galloway said, are because of low staff availability at schools because of the virus.

As far as return dates to in-person instruction, Willow Drive students and the sixth- and seventh-graders at Chestnut Oaks are scheduled to return on Monday, Jan. 24. Previously identified schools, including Hillcrest Middle, Bates Middle, Furman Middle, Shaw Heights Elementary, Pocalla Springs Elementary, Chestnut Oaks' eighth-graders and Sumter Academy for Support and Intervention are set to return on Tuesday, she added.

UPDATED DISTRICT PROTOCOLS

District Superintendent Penelope Martin-Knox sent a letter to district families Wednesday on updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols for schools.

Based on the guidance, students and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 must quarantine and isolate but may return to school when they meet the following criteria:

- At least five days have passed since symptoms started;

- 24 hours since the last fever without using fever-reducing medication;

- Symptoms are significantly improving (must have parent note confirming; and

- Masks must be worn through day 10.

Asymptomatic students or staff with a positive viral test are required to be excluded from school until five days after specimen collection (return on day 6) and must wear a mask each day through day 10.

Additionally, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control has updated the recommended quarantine period for students and staff who are exposed to COVID-19.

If a close contact has been positive in the past 90 days, they do not need to quarantine unless they develop symptoms. They should monitor themselves for symptoms daily. If symptoms develop, they should isolate and get tested.

The superintendent's full letter can be found on the district's website (sumterschools.net) and by clicking on the large COVID-19 updates icon on the front page.