Schools resuming in 2022 as COVID cases soar. Here’s what Triangle districts are doing.
Most North Carolina public schools will return from their winter breaks next week but face a new spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations due to the contagious omicron variant.
Thursday, Wake County Public Schools issued guidance to parents on safety protocols and testing before students return Monday.
But the protocols haven’t changed since before the break, even as North Carolina breaks records in reporting new cases.
The school system continues to echo state and federal health authorities in encouraging vaccinations against the virus for staff, parents and eligible public school students. Children as young as 5 years old are eligible to get the coronavirus vaccine, which is widely offered for free.
▪ The school system announced Thursday it’s expanding testing access to all of the county’s public schools through its partnership with MAKO Medical, the state’s testing vendor. Schools will soon offer weekly COVID-19 tests on campus for students and staff as a way to curb the spread of the virus, WCPSS said.
Parents must register for in-school testing by filling out a form online for their students’ schools, and a form per school if their children attend different schools. Parents and guardians can submit test registration for themselves or for their students.
▪ While Wake schools aren’t mandating vaccines, the Wake County school board unanimously voted in early December to continue enforcing an indoor mask mandate for students, school employees and school visitors.
▪ WCPSS is requiring sick students to stay home and quarantine. That also applies to students who live with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, according to state and local health guidelines.
▪ Students experiencing any symptom of illness not related to an already documented medical condition must be sent home, even without a COVID-19 diagnosis, the school system said.
Here’s a look at what other Triangle school districts are doing as the school year resumes.
Durham Public Schools
The district’s return to classes is Tuesday, Jan. 4.
Wearing a mask indoors remains a requirement across Durham County Public Schools.
Testing at all schools in the Durham County school system will also be available. Parents and guardians can complete an online form on the school district’s COVID-19 dashboard website.
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
Students return to class on Jan. 3. The school district, which also has a mask requirement, will continue on-school campus testing in collaboration with MAKO Medical.
“With the omicron variant of COVID-19 presenting an increase in positive cases across the country and state, it’s unfortunate that we should expect an increase in community transmission in January,” said superintendent Nyah Hamlett in a statement on the school district’s Facebook page Thursday.
She said a switch to remote learning is not the best option for students. She said vaccines, booster shots, COVID-19 testing and mask requirements offer the best approach to helping students and staff stay safe.
She said the district will soon incorporate a “test to stay” program, which allows asymptomatic people who have been exposed to COVID-19 to take a COVID-19 test instead of quarantining. MAKO Medical will continue to test on campus, but Hamlett asks people with symptoms to get tested elsewhere.
“We recognize that testing supplies may be scarce, and there is always room for continuous improvement with educational programming; we also know that having children and educators in school is the safest, albeit not 100% risk-free, place for learning to continue,” Hamlett said.
Hamlett said 97% of the district’s employees are fully vaccinated with about 45 employees exempt for medical or religious reasons.
Orange County schools
Students return to class on Monday.
The district requires masks indoors and on school buses but not outdoors. The district is “strongly” encouraging eligible students and adults to get vaccinated.
School nurses will assess whether an exposed student needs to be sent home to quarantine. The district is offering a “test to stay” option for asymptomatic students to reduce quarantine time.
This story was originally published December 31, 2021 at 5:55 AM with the headline "Schools resuming in 2022 as COVID cases soar. Here’s what Triangle districts are doing.."
