CMS reviewing school quarantine policy after North Carolina COVID rule change
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools says the district is reviewing a change in state COVID-19 response recommendations to discontinue formal contact tracing and certain quarantine requirements, effective later this month.
CMS leaders say they’ll work closely with Mecklenburg health officials on next steps, in light of revised guidance from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
Earlier Thursday, state health officials announced that effective Feb. 21 it no longer will recommend nor require North Carolina public schools to keep students and employees out of classrooms if they’ve had suspected exposure to COVID-19. Quarantine will continue to be required for any person who tests positive for coronavirus or who has symptoms.
The change would greatly reduce the need for close contact quarantining or required isolation as a precaution.
At any given time, such a change could mean hundreds of students and teachers are allowed to return to classrooms, instead of waiting five or more days at home to see if symptoms develop after a possible exposure.
The district’s communications team sent a message to all families late Thursday night, letting them know that “our district is aware of an important update to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services StrongSchools Toolkit.”
District leaders will discuss to “what extent our pandemic-response protocols may be adjusted when the new guidance takes effect,” the message says.
Throughout the pandemic, CMS has generally adopted all DHHS guidelines, whether required or as recommendations.
Effective Feb. 21, N.C. DHHS will no longer require K-12 school students and employees to stay home after a COVID-19 exposure unless they’ve tested positive or show symptoms, The News & Observer reported. North Carolina health officials also announced that they no longer recommend contact tracing.
CMS told families that recommendations about masking in schools remain the same, and “masks are still required in all CMS facilities, in accordance with Board of Education policy.”
According to its current COVID-19 Resource Guide, CMS calls for staff and students to stay home if they have tested positive for or are showing COVID-19 symptoms or they have recently had close contact with a person with COVID-19. Exceptions are made for situations where all were wearing a mask and where a person deemed a close contact has been fully vaccinated and is not having symptoms.
COVID and schools
Between Feb. 2 and 8, CMS’ COVID-19 dashboard reported 664 new cases among students and staff and 831 in quarantine, including 709 students and 122 staff members. Nine sites reported school clusters.
Families are notified if their child is required to quarantine due to close contact. Numbers are reported by school site administrators and published weekly; delays in reporting may occur. Quarantine data reflects the number of quarantines reported and includes positive cases reported within the time period shown. Learn more about notification, close contact and quarantine protocols in the CMS COVID-19 Resource Guide.
A week ago, the Union County school board voted to end contact tracing and quarantine requirements in all of the district’s schools The decision took effect Monday and was made based on a “steady downward spiral” of COVID-19 cases.
In Union County, only students and employees who are sick with COVID symptoms or who test positive are required to stay home. The policy change means Union County Public Schools will not require proactive isolation or quarantine of individuals who were exposed or suspect exposure to the virus.
Bailey Pennington, with the office of communications for NC DHHS, told the Observer the tool kit includes strategies like vaccination, boosters, masking, physical distancing and testing to keep staff and students from contracting the virus.
“All schools should implement the guidance of the toolkit to best protect students and staff,” Pennington said.
This story was originally published February 10, 2022 at 9:38 PM.
