COVID-19 info at H C S graphic

2023-2024 COVID-19 Information

  • Information updated August 17, 2023

    Horry County Schools will follow the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control’s (SCDHEC) COVID-19 guidelines for K-12 Schools.

    For the 2023-2024 school year, only students who receive a positive test result must be isolated at home for a minimum of 5 days. Criteria for Return:  it has been at least 5 days since symptoms started and 24 hours since the last fever without the use of fever -reducing medication and symptoms are significantly improved.  Parents of a student who received a positive COVID-19 test result should submit the positive test result to the school so that the student’s attendance will be coded correctly. At-Home COVID-19 Test Result Form.

    The above SCDHEC guidelines will remain in place unless the school has an outbreak. An outbreak is defined by SCDHEC as 20% of students/staff in a shared setting of more than 5 students/staff (i.e., classroom, sports teams, or other groups) testing positive for COVID-19 or sent home with COVID-19 symptoms within a 72-hour period.

    In an outbreak situation, quarantine is required for individuals in the shared setting or cohort, with the following two exceptions:

    • Individuals who are up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations and do not have symptoms do NOT need to quarantine after a close contact. 

    • DHEC recommends testing at day five (5). 
    • Individuals must wear a mask for 10 days unless eating or drinking or more than six feet from anyone else when outdoors.

    • People who have tested positive (PCR or antigen test) for COVID-19 within the past 90 days and recovered and who do not have symptoms do NOT need to quarantine after a close contact. 

    • Individuals must wear a mask for 10 days unless eating or drinking or more than six feet from anyone else when outdoors.