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Lancaster County School District board moves to shorten quarantine period for students exposed to COVID-19

Earlier this week, the district reported 139 positive cases and more than 1,000 students and staff quarantined after the first week of school.

LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — The Lancaster County School District Board of Trustees voted Friday to provide a 10-day quarantine option for students who may have been exposed to COVID-19, allowing them to return to the classroom sooner than 14 days. 

The district currently is reporting 139 positive cases and more than 1,100 students and staff quarantined. 

Several parents spoke during the public comment section of the board meeting, asking the board to shorten the quarantine period. 

"Quarantining healthy children to attempt and try and stop the virus that we know very well is never going away is excessive and unnecessary, to say the least," one parent said before the board. 

Another parent added, "You kept children from their education for 14 days, not a single symptom. That's insane." 

RELATED: South Carolina says they will enforce CDC mask mandate on school buses

If no symptoms have shown up during the first 10 days of quarantine, students can return to school on the 11th day, but they must wear a mask for the remaining days of the 14-day quarantine period in all school district facilities and events. They must also follow physical distancing guidelines and continue to daily monitor symptoms. If symptoms develop, they must notify the school. 

The board also discussed a proposed virtual option for students. 

RELATED: Chester County Schools institutes mask policy, defying SC law

Lancaster County School Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Phipps previously defended the school district saying the district is working to follow CDC guidelines, but full capacity classrooms make it difficult to keep students apart.

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