Tyrrell County Schools COVID-19 Info

The StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit (k-12) was updated on December 30,2021.   Changes were made to the recommended quarantine and isolation times.  Our local Health Director has reviewed and agreed to the changes as well as given updated guidance for athletics.  The changes are outlined below:

 

• Athletes who are COVID positive or are exposed will follow a 10-day exclusion from sports (play or practice).  This is reduced from the prior 14-day rule.  For academics, they will return as any other student. 
• EXPOSURE:  A fully-vaccinated person who is up-to date for their age does not need to be excluded from school if they have no symptoms. Individuals who are 16 and older are eligible for a booster if it has been at least six months since their last Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or two months since the J & J.  To be considered fully vaccinated would require the booster dose be given, if eligible.   Children ages 5-15 are considered fully vaccinated if they have received both doses of the vaccine and it has been at least two weeks since the last dose. 
• EXPOSURE:  If both individuals have been wearing a mask the entire time, appropriately, they do not need to be excluded from school (regardless of vaccination status). 
• EXPOSURE:  A person who is not up-to date with all recommended vaccinations for their age and has been in close contact with a COVID positive individual, in which one of the persons was not masked, they can return to school after completing 5 days of quarantine. If possible, they should test on day 5.  When returning to school, they must adhere to strict mask use for an additional 5 days. If symptoms develop, they must immediately isolate until a test either confirms or rules out COVID. 
• SYMPTOMS:  Person has symptoms of COVID but has received a negative test for COVID-19 or has visited a health care provider and received an alternate diagnosis that would explain symptoms may return to school when they feel well for at least 24 hours and are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. "In a person with symptoms, a negative test is defined as either a negative PCR/molecular test or a Rapid antigen test if the person has a low likelihood of infection (no known exposure or fully vaccinated)."
• SYMPTOMS:  Person has symptoms but has not been tested or visited a health care provider are presumed positive for COVID. They may return to school when it has been at least 5 days since the first symptoms, they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication, and symptoms are improving. They must also follow strict mask guidelines for an additional 5 days after returning to school. 
• POSITIVE DIAGNOSIS: Person with symptoms and has tested positive for COVID may return to school when it has been at least 5 days since the first day of symptoms, have been 24 hours fever-free without the use of medications, and symptoms are improving.  They must also follow strict mask guidelines for an additional 5 days after returning to school to minimize risk of infecting others. 
• POSITIVE DIAGNOSIS:  Person WITHOUT symptoms may return to school 5 days after the specimen collection date of their positive test as long as they did not develop symptoms.  The person must continue to strictly wear a mask for 5 days post return to school. 
• POSITIVE DIAGNOSIS:  Person tested positive with an antigen test but does not have symptoms and is not known to be a close contact to someone diagnosed with COVID-19--Person may have a repeat  PCR/molecular test performed in a lab within 24-48 hours of their positive antigen test, and that PCR/molecular test is negative--the positive test can be considered a false positive and the person can immediately return to school OR    The person does not have a repeat PCR/molecular test or has one within the 24-48 hours and it is also positive, the person can return to school 5 days after the specimen collection date of the first positive test, as long as they did not develop symptoms. the person MUST continue to mask for 5 days to minimize the risk of infecting others. 

 

The most effective ways to prevent the spread of COVID are staying home when sick, appropriate handwashing, consistent and correct wearing of masks, and vaccination.