Covid-19 Update for Monroe County Schools December 18, 2020
 
As Monroe County Schools completed its first semester and began Christmas holidays today, it continued to identify positive cases of Covid-19 among students and staff. 
"As we start two weeks of holiday break, we are praying that our students, faculty and staff, and their families do all they can to stay safe and help us avoid the predicted post-Christmas spike in Covid cases," said Superintendent Dr. Mike Hickman.  
This week, school administrators received reports of 15 positive cases and performed contact tracing to ensure necessary quarantines were put in place for those in direct contact with the positive cases.  The cases included three staff members at T.G. Scott, one staff member at Monroe County Middle School, and two staff members at Mary Persons High School.  There also were four student cases at T.G. Scott, three student cases at K.B. Sutton, and two student cases at Mary Persons.  In the majority of cases, the individuals were already in quarantine due to exposure.  Due to this, new quarantines were at a much lower number.
The school system has and will continue to follow the guidelines of the Department of Public Health (DPH) which classifies close contact as being within six feet of the person with Covid-19 for 15 minutes or more.  This applies both inside and outside the school buildings.
As Monroe County continues to be in the "substantial spread" category as designated by the DPH, the school system urges all staff, students, and parents of the following actions to combat the spread of Covid and all other illnesses:
  • Wear masks when at school, on the school bus, or in public areas.
  • Maximize distancing in all public settings. 
  • Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care. 
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. 
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands. 
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water or approved hand sanitizer.
"We want to see all of our staff back on January 5, and our students return on January 7, healthy, rested, and ready to learn," said Dr. Hickman. "Please be safe and do your part to keep your family and friends safe as well."

New CDC/DPH Quarantine Guidelines 

As of December 4, 2020, per CDC and DPH guidelines, the options for quarantine period have changed. The three quarantine options for students that have had direct exposure include the options below. 

Parents, if your child was placed in quarantine prior to the implementation date of December 4, 2020, you may contact your child's school and choose another option that works best for your individual situation. 

Remember that before the updated guidelines were published, option 3 was the only option for quarantine.
 
  1. Option 1- Quarantine at home for 7 consecutive days. If asymptomatic on or after the 5th day, the student may take a PCR test (not the rapid test). If the PCR test is negative, parents/guardians must provide the test result to the school. After approval is received from the school, the student may return to school and activities on the 8th day. 
  2. Option 2- Quarantine at home for 10 consecutive days. If asymptomatic, the student may return to school and activities on the 11th day. 
  3. Option 3- Quarantine at home for 14 consecutive days. If asymptomatic, the student may return to school and activities on the 15th day. 
The school system continues to follow the guidelines of the Department of Public Health (DPH) which classifies close contact as being within six feet of the person with Covid-19 for 15 minutes or more.  When this is determined, parents of affected students are asked to quarantine their children at home for a specified period of time. Appropriate information from public health is provided to the parents as guidance.

If you have questions regarding these guidelines, please contact your school administrators.  For more information on testing and Covid-19, contact the Georgia Department of Public Health Covid-19 Hotline at 1-844-987-0099.
25 Brooklyn Avenue, P.O. Box 1308  | Forsyth, GA 31029 | Phone 478.994.2031  | Fax 478.994.3364 | www.monroe.k12.ga.us
Monroe County School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or sex in its employment practices, student programs and dealings with the public. It is the policy of the Board of Education to comply fully with the requirements of Title VI, Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act and all accompanying regulations. As a result, the following people have been appointed to oversee specific areas. Title II, Adult 504, Adult Title IX  Dr. Mike Hickman 25 Brooklyn Avenue, Forsyth, GA 31029 478-994-2031 Student and Athletic Title IX Jackson Daniel 25 Brooklyn Avenue, Forsyth, GA 31029 Student 504 Jenny Rooks 25 Brooklyn Avenue Forsyth, GA 31029 Copyright 2020. 
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