Richland 1 revises COVID-19 safety protocols as omicron surges. What to know

Students and staff in the Richland 1 school district will still be required to wear masks in school, but the quarantine and isolation requirements will be eased, according to updated rules announced Wednesday.

The new rules are based on guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. The revised rules were signed by Superintendent Craig Witherspoon and posted to Richland 1’s website.

They outline a variety of scenarios for students and staff if they are exposed to or test positive for COVID-19.

▪ Those with COVID-19 symptoms or a positive COVID-19 test will need to isolate for five days regardless of whether they are vaccinated.

▪ Close contacts now will need to quarantine for seven days, instead of the 10 that had been previously required.

▪ Those who test positive will have to isolate for only 5 days from the start of the symptoms, as opposed to the previous 10-day requirement.

▪ Those who have COVID-19 symptoms but test negative can return to school without isolating, according to Richland 1’s website.

▪ Those who are fully vaccinated — meaning they have both COVID-19 shots plus a booster shot — are not required to isolate if they are a close contact but asymptomatic.

The announcement comes as COVID-19 cases rise throughout the state and the country. Last week, South Carolina twice broke the state record for number of new positive COVID-19 tests in a single day.