Information updated March 12, 2024

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

Students who receive a positive test result may return to school if there has been no fever within 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and if/when symptoms are significantly improved.  Parents of a student who received a positive COVID-19 test result should notify the school so that the student’s attendance will be coded correctly. Parent self-report is sufficient for notifying the school that your child is positive for the COVID-19 virus.

The above SCDHEC guidelines will remain in place unless the school has an outbreak. If an outbreak is determined by SCDHEC, additional information for schools, students, and parents will be distributed accordingly.

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.

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.

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

For the 2022-2023 school year, only students who receive a positive test result must be isolated at home for a minimum of 5 days. Provided that they are symptom-free, these students may return to school on day 6 and are recommended to wear a mask for days 6-10.  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. 

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 or cohort with 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 3-day 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 are recommended to wear a mask for 10 days.

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

• Individuals are recommended to wear a mask for 10 days.

Effective immediately, HCS will no longer require the use of masks by students and staff on school buses. This new update was announced by the South Carolina Department of Education on February 25, 2022, in response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stating that “it is exercising its enforcement discretion to not require that people wear masks on buses or vans operated by public or private school systems, including early care and education/childcare programs."

A copy of the memorandum issued by the South Carolina Department of Education can be viewed at https://ed.sc.gov/newsroom/school-district-memoranda-archive/.

SC DHEC Test-to-Stay Program for Students

Updated February 8, 2022

Horry County Schools (HCS) has requested that the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) provide the District with at-home COVID-19 tests in order to take part in SCDHEC’s Test-to-Stay program. While we do not know when HCS will receive the at-home test kits from SCDHEC to distribute to parents, on February 9, 2022, HCS will proceed with the new SCDHEC quarantine guidelines. These changes will allow for no quarantine based upon receipt of negative test results. Parents may report results from tests which they have administered to their student or secured from a third party. Rapid tests are available at no cost at many public health departments and through the Federal Government. Tests are also available for purchase at many pharmacies and retail stores.

HCS will inform parents when the COVID-19 tests are received from SCDHEC and are available for pick-up by parents at each school site, as HCS will not perform COVID-19 testing within the school buildings. Parents who elect to use these kits to test their student at home will be required to submit their student’s test results utilizing the SCDHEC attestation form.

Starting on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, parents will be notified if their student is deemed a close contact of a COVID-19 positive individual. A student, regardless of his/her vaccination status, who is identified as a close contact of a COVID-19 positive individual may continue to attend school and avoid quarantine provided he/she has no symptoms* and if he/she does all of the following:

1. Remains symptom-free.
2. Wears a mask through Day 10.
   1. If a student refuses to wear a mask, the individual cannot participate in the Test-to-Stay program and will be required to quarantine for 10 days.
3. Gets a COVID-19 test between Days 5 - 7 and provide the test results prior to Day 8.
   1. A PCR, rapid antigen from a lab, or an at-home rapid test are accepted. If an at-home rapid test is conducted, a DHEC Attestation Form must be completed and submitted to the school.  Either the DHEC Attestation Form or a negative test result can be delivered to the school nurse OR may be sent to negativeCOVID19testresults@horrycountyschools.net .
   2. If the test result is positive, your student should isolate immediately, must submit the test result to the school, and await further guidance from the school.
   3. If a test result is NOT submitted by Day 8, the student must quarantine at home for three additional days (Days 8 - 10) before he/she can return to school on Day 11.

If the student develops symptoms* at any time, he/she must isolate immediately, report symptoms to the school, and await further guidance from the school. 

*Symptoms of illness during quarantine period include:

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• New or worsening cough
• New loss of taste or smell
• Fever of at least 100.4
• OR any two or more of the following symptoms during the 10 days of an exposure: new onset of severe headache, fatigue, persistent or worsening sore throat, congestion or runny nose, muscle pain or body aches, nausea/vomiting, or diarrhea.

If you have any questions, you may email them to COVID19info@horrycountyschools.net or contact your school nurse.

Jan. 20, 2022

Horry County Schools will follow the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control's (DHEC) updated isolation and quarantine guidance, published in their COVID-19 Guidance for K-12 School Booklet on January 15, 2022.

For a complete summary of the newly updated quarantine guidance for Horry County Schools, click here or visit our website.

Email COVID19info@horrycountyschools.net for questions regarding COVID-19 quarantines and contact tracing.

January 11, 2022

Horry County Schools will follow the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control's (DHEC) updated isolation and quarantine guidance, published in their COVID-19 Guidance for K-12 School Booklet on January 9, 2022.

The changes include:

• Updated vaccinated definitions
• Household close contact clarification
• Updates to at-home testing guidance
• Addition of an at-home attestation form

For a complete summary of the newly updated student quarantine guidance for Horry County Schools, click here.

For a complete summary of the newly updated staff quarantine guidance for Horry County Schools, click here.

Email COVID19info@horrycountyschools.net for questions regarding COVID-19 quarantines and contact tracing.

January 4, 2022

UPDATE ON HORRY COUNTY SCHOOLS PROCEDURES RELATED TO COVID-19 QUARANTINES and ISOLATIONS

Horry County Schools will follow the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control's (DHEC) updated isolation and quarantine guidance which reflects recent updates published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Below are key points of DHEC's current recommendations:

If You Tested Positive (Isolation):

If you test positive for COVID-19, you need to isolate regardless of your vaccination status:

• Stay home and avoid in-person contact with others for at least 5 days
• If you have no symptoms after Day 5, you can end isolation but must wear a mask around others for 5 more days

If You Were Exposed to Someone with COVID-19 (Quarantine):

• If you have received the vaccine doses for which you are eligible (completed initial vaccination series and booster for ages 16 and up, or completed initial vaccination series for ages 5-15), you don't have to quarantine, but you must wear a mask around others for 10 days. DHEC recommends you get tested on Day 5.

• Individuals are eligible for a booster six months after completing their Pfizer or Moderna vaccination series, or two months after their single-dose of Janssen.
• If you have not been vaccinated or you have completed your primary vaccination series and are booster eligible, but haven't received a booster, you must quarantine for 10 days. However, if you test on Day 4 or beyond and receive a negative result, you may shorten your quarantine to 5 days, but you must wear a mask around others for days 6-10.
• If you develop symptoms, stay home and get tested.

For a complete summary of the newly updated Staff Quarantine guidance for HCS, click here.

For a complete summary of the newly updated Student Quarantine guidance for HCS, click here.

UPDATE ON HORRY COUNTY SCHOOLS PROCEDURES RELATED TO COVID-19 QUARANTINES, COVID-19 ISOLATIONS, AND DISTANCE LEARNING

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

QUARANTINES - CLOSE CONTACT*

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) in its K-12 Schools Interim Guidance for Management of COVID-19 Cases, dated August 25, 2021, provides school districts with three choices for implementing quarantines of students or employees who have been exposed to COVID-19. While the recommended duration for a quarantine period is 14 days, based on local circumstances and resources, two options are available to reduce the duration of quarantine provided specific criteria are met.

In an effort to increase our students’ access to face-to-face instruction, Horry County Schools will implement the two SCDHEC-approved options for quarantines of both students and employees who have been identified as a close contact of an individual with a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result. Therefore, effective Tuesday, September 7th, the below guidelines will be followed when an individual is deemed a close contact of another individual who has received a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result:

• Ten days of quarantine must be completed and no symptoms have been reported during daily at-home monitoring.

OR

• Seven days of quarantine must be completed, no symptoms have been reported during daily at-home monitoring, and the individual has received results of a negative antigen or PCR/molecular test that was taken no earlier than day five of quarantine. (According to SCDHEC, results of over-the-counter COVID-19 tests will not be accepted.)

• Negative COVID-19 test results should be sent via email to negativeCOVID19testresults@horrycountyschools.net  or be submitted at the school.  A student may not report to class until 7 calendar days of quarantine have been completed and until the negative test result has been recorded by school staff.

*Individuals who are fully vaccinated or who have received a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result from a healthcare provider in the last 90 days and who are not symptomatic do not have to quarantine.

QUARANTINES - HOUSEHOLD CONTACT*

In an effort to increase our students’ access to face-to-face instruction, Horry County Schools will implement the two SCDHEC-approved options for quarantines of both students and employees who have been identified as a household contact of an individual with a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result. Therefore, effective Tuesday, September 7th, the below guidelines will be followed when an individual is deemed a household contact of another individual in the same household who has received a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result:

• Twenty days of quarantine must be completed and no symptoms have been reported during daily at-home monitoring.

OR

• Seventeen days of quarantine must be completed, no symptoms have been reported during daily at-home monitoring, and the individual has received results of a negative antigen or PCR/molecular test that was taken no earlier than day fifteen of quarantine. (According to SCDHEC, results of over-the-counter COVID-19 tests will not be accepted.) 

• Negative COVID-19 test results should be sent via email to negativeCOVID19testresults@horrycountyschools.net  or be submitted at the school.  A student may not report to class until 17 calendar days of quarantine have been completed and until the negative test result has been recorded by school staff.

*Individuals who are fully vaccinated or who have received a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result from a healthcare provider in the last 90 days and who are not symptomatic do not have to quarantine.

QUARANTINES - CURRENT STUDENTS IN QUARANTINE AS OF SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

Any student who is currently on either a 14-day quarantine period (close contact) or a 24-day quarantine period (household contact) and who is not symptomatic should follow the appropriate procedure above for either close contact or household contact. 

ISOLATION - POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST RESULT

Students and staff members who receive a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result must isolate for 10 days.  The student/staff members may return to school or work on the 11th day provided they are asymptomatic. There is no option to shorten isolation due to a positive COVID-19 test result.

• Visit our updated Student Quarantine Requirements Page for more information.
  
  
• HCS staff can visit the updated Staff Quarantine Requirements page for more information.

September 3, 2021

SCHOOLS RECENTLY MOVED TO DISTANCE LEARNING 

AMS was originally moved to distance learning from August 30th – September 10th.  Under the revised procedures, AMS students and employees may return to face-to-face learning on Tuesday, September 7th unless the student or staff member is symptomatic, has received a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result while on distance learning, or was deemed as a household contact.  Any questions may be emailed to covid19info@horrycountyschools.net.

CHS was originally moved to distance learning from September 1st – September 14th.  Under the revised procedures, CHS students and employees may return to face-to-face learning on Monday, September 13th unless the student or staff member is symptomatic, has received a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result while on distance learning, or was deemed as a household contact.  Any questions may be emailed to covid19info@horrycountyschools.net.

LMS was originally moved to distance learning from September 2nd – September 15th.  Under the revised procedures, LMS students and employees may return to face-to-face learning on Monday, September 13th unless the student or staff member is symptomatic, has received a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result while on distance learning, or was deemed as a household contact.  Any questions may be emailed to covid19info@horrycountyschools.net.

WPMS was originally moved to distance learning from September 3rd – September 16th.  Under the revised procedures, WPMS students and employees may return to face-to-face learning on Monday, September 13th unless the student or staff member is symptomatic, has received a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result while on distance learning, or was deemed as a household contact.  Any questions may be emailed to covid19info@horrycountyschools.net.

TOMS was originally moved to distance learning from September 3rd – September 16th.  Under the revised procedures, TOMS students and employees may return to face-to-face learning on Monday, September 13th unless the student or staff member is symptomatic, has received a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result while on distance learning, or was deemed as a household contact.  Any questions may be emailed to covid19info@horrycountyschools.net.

Sept. 2, 2021

Whittemore Park Middle Transitioning to Distance Learning on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021

On Friday, September 3, 2021, all Whittemore Park Middle School students will transition to distance learning for a two-week period. All Whittemore Park School employees who are not under quarantine will report to the school building on September 3, 2021, to perform their job responsibilities. Teachers will deliver instruction via distance learning to their students. On Friday, September 17, 2021, regular face-to-face instruction of students will resume. While distance learning is underway, the school building will undergo a deep cleaning.

During this two-week period of distance learning, all afterschool activities, including sports, practices, and/or club meetings are canceled.

Parents must call the Whittemore Park Middle Cafeteria at 843-488-0663 on Friday, September 3, before 10 a.m., to request meals for Tuesday, September 7, through Friday, September 10. Each order will include a supply of breakfasts and lunches.

Ten Oaks Middle Transitioning to Distance Learning on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021

On Friday, September 3, 2021, all Ten Oaks Middle School students will transition to distance learning for a two-week period. All Ten Oaks Middle School employees who are not under quarantine will report to the school building on September 3, 2021, to perform their job responsibilities. Teachers will deliver instruction via distance learning to their students. On Friday, September 17, 2021, regular face-to-face instruction of students will resume. While distance learning is underway, the school building will undergo a deep cleaning.

During this two-week period of distance learning, all afterschool activities, including sports, practices, and/or club meetings are canceled.

Parents must call the Ten Oaks Middle Cafeteria at 843-488-8973 on Friday, September 3, before 10 a.m., to request meals for Tuesday, September 7, through Friday, September 10. Each order will include a supply of breakfasts and lunches.

On Thursday, September 2, 2021, all Loris Middle School students will transition to distance learning for a two-week period. All Loris Middle School employees who are not under quarantine will report to the school building on September 2, 2021, to perform their job responsibilities. Teachers will deliver instruction via distance learning to their students. On Thursday, September 16, 2021, regular face-to-face instruction of students will resume. While distance learning is underway, the school building will undergo a deep cleaning.

During this two-week period of distance learning, all afterschool activities, including sports, practices, and/or club meetings are canceled.

Parents must call the Loris Middle Cafeteria at 843-756-0912 on Thursday, September 2, before 10 a.m., to request meals for Friday, September 3, and Tuesday, September 7, through Friday, September 10. Each order will include a supply of breakfasts and lunches.

Updated:
SCDE Clarification on 8/27/2021 

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) announced that it will again enforce the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Order requiring the use of face coverings by students and staff on state-owned and operated school buses. All South Carolina public school districts must be in compliance with this requirement no later than Monday, August 30, 2021.

To facilitate adherence to the CDC Order, the SCDE will equip all state-owned school buses with an adequate supply of face coverings that meet CDC Order requirements. If a student boards a bus without a face covering, bus drivers should offer the student a face covering. School districts shall implement disciplinary measures designed to enforce this requirement, including, but not limited to suspending a student from riding a bus. However, no student should be placed in an unsafe situation as a result of attempting to board a bus without a face covering.

For more information, see the following link on the SCDE website:https://www.ed.sc.gov/newsroom/school-district-memoranda-archive/update-on-school-bus-face-covering-requirements/update-on-sc.

Questions regarding HCS implementation of this SCDE requirement should be directed to bprince@horrycountyschools.net or (843) 488-6955.

Visit www.horrycountyschools.net/COVID19 for more information on COVID-19 related information for Horry County Schools.

July 6, 2021

All South Carolina public schools received guidance related to Proviso 1.108 (SDE): Mask Mandate Prohibition) and update face coverings on school bus requirements. Proviso 1.108 was adopted by the General Assembly in the 2021-22 Appropriations Bill and reads as follows:

1.108. (SDE: Mask Mandate Prohibition): No school district, or any of its schools, may use any funds appropriated or authorized pursuant to this act to require that its students and/or employees wear a facemask at any of its education facilities. This prohibition extends to the announcement or enforcement of any such policy.

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) interprets the above language to mean that school districts are prohibited from requiring students and employees to wear a facemask while in any of its educational facilities for the 2021-22 school year. Educational facilities include all property owned and operated by the individual district.

The SCDE has previously enforced the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s January 29, 2021, order that requires face coverings by people on public transportation conveyances and hubs, including school buses. Effective immediately, the SCDE will exercise its enforcement discretion granted within this order and will no longer enforce the face-covering requirement on state-owned school buses. The use of face coverings by students and staff on school buses and within school facilities remains a recommendation of state and federal public health officials. Proviso 1.108 does not prevent districts from encouraging the wearing of face coverings in these settings.

However, districts may not create or enforce any policy, which would require the wearing of face coverings. Should a district decide to act contrary to this law, state funding may be withheld.

In compliance with this directive from the State Superintendent, effective immediately, Horry County Schools will not require students or employees to wear a face mask on school district property or on school buses. However, Superintendent Spearman does note, “The use of face coverings by students and staff on school buses and within school facilities remains a recommendation of state and federal public health officials and Proviso 1.108 does not prevent districts from encouraging the wearing of face coverings in these settings.”