School building, bus, face mask, immunization shot, heart, trees, clouds, Warren County Schools , 1885. Text: Healthy Schools Information

COVID-19 State Guidance Updates - Effective March 1, 2022

Warren County Schools

February 25, 2022

Families,

We want to make you aware of changes in state guidelines for COVID-19 exposures and notifications, quarantine requirements, and contact tracing requirements. We also want to reiterate the layered health measures that are still in place in our schools and be clear about what you can expect moving forward. 

We need your help to keep schools open

We desperately need your help and cooperation to keep our students and staff healthy, so we can keep our schools open. You and your student have the most power to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in our schools, by following these simple steps: 

  1. Get vaccinated for free and get boosted when eligible. Learn more.

  2. Get tested weekly at school through our WeCare COVID-19 testing. All you have to do is submit a signed consent form. Learn more.

  3. Wear a mask at all times. This is even more critical if you’ve been exposed to COVID-19!

  4. Stay home if you’re sick and get tested to see if it’s COVID-19 before you return to school.

No change in masking requirements at this time

The Warren County Health Department recommended we keep our current mask requirements in place while our county continues to have a high COVID-19 transmission rate. Our Board of Education is scheduled to vote on our masking requirements at their next meeting on March 22, after Spring Break. In the meantime, we will continue to monitor our county’s COVID-19 statistics, consult with our local health department, and follow state requirements. We appreciate your cooperation.

No quarantine required if you’re exposed to COVID-19 and don’t have symptoms

Starting Tuesday, March 1, You will not be required to quarantine or stay home if you’re exposed to COVID-19 and don’t have any symptoms of illness. If you choose to quarantine or stay home, your absence will be excused and you will be required to make up any missed assignments.

For 10 days after your last exposure to COVID-19, you must wear a well-fitting mask at all times, including on school transportation and when outdoors on school property. If you develop symptoms, you should get tested for COVID-19 immediately. If you have been exposed, you have symptoms, and your COVID-19 test is negative, you should get tested again on the 5th day after your last exposure to COVID-19.

If you’re experiencing any symptom of illness

If you’re experiencing any symptoms of illness, please stay home until you meet the appropriate requirements to return and then follow the required precautions to keep others from getting sick! You can find this information on our website at warrenk12nc.org/COVID. 

Sick and positive COVID-19 test (PCR)

  • You can return to school when you meet all three of these requirements: 

      1. It has been at least 5 days after your first day of symptoms AND
      2. It has been at least 24 hours since you had a fever (without using fever reducing medicine) AND
      3. Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving

  • You are not required to have a negative test in order to return to school.

  • When you return, you must continue to wear a mask at all times for 10 days after your first day of symptoms to minimize the risk of infecting others.

Sick and negative COVID-19 test (PCR) or diagnosed with something else that explains your symptoms

  • You can return to school when you meet both of these requirements:

      1. It has been at least 24 hours since you had a fever, without using fever reducing medicine AND
      2. You have felt well for at least 24 hours

Sick and no COVID-19 test or alternate diagnosis

If you are experiencing any symptom of illness and do not get a negative PCR COVID-19 test or an alternate diagnosis, we are required to treat you as if you have a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.

  • You can return to school when you meet all three of these requirements: 

      1. It has been at least 5 days after your first day of symptoms AND
      2. It has been at least 24 hours since you had a fever (without using fever reducing medicine) AND
      3. Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving

  • You are not required to have a negative test in order to return to school.

  • When you return, you must continue to wear a mask at all times for 10 days after your first day of symptoms to minimize the risk of infecting others.

Group exposure notifications and no contact tracing

Following state guidance, we will no longer do contact tracing starting Tuesday, March 1, 2022. The NC Department of Health and Human Services has determined, “individual contact tracing is a less effective tool for responding to the pandemic at this phase.”

Without contact tracing, we will notify entire groups, including students and staff, if someone in that group is diagnosed with COVID-19. 

Examples:

  • Classes - we will notify an entire class if someone associated with that class has COVID-19.

  • Buses - we will notify an entire bus if someone on that bus has COVID-19.

  • Athletic teams - we will notify the entire team if someone associated with the team has COVID-19.

Multi-layer health precautions still in place

  1. Vaccination requirement for all staff

  2. Vaccination requirement for student-athletes

  3. Required weekly COVID-19 testing for student-athletes

  4. Voluntary WeCare COVID-19 weekly testing for all students and staff

  5. Hospital-grade air sterilizers in all school cafeterias and the Warren County High School gym, where we host indoor athletic events

  6. Frequent hand washing and hand sanitizing