The Latest from September 20th:
The Union County Public Schools voted 8-1 to pass the following notion:
1. UCPS will continue to follow its legal obligations of reporting positive cases to the local health department and provide relevant information to the local health department.
2. UCPS will require students who are symptomatic or have tested positive for COVID-19 to stay home.
3. UCPS will recognize quarantines in accordance with state law of students and staff who are considered close contacts with a COVID-19 positive case.
Update from September 13th:
UNION COUNTY, N.C. — The Union County Board of Education held a special meeting Monday where they voted to put an end to the district’s COVID-19 contact tracing along with allowing students and staff in quarantine to return to school if they are not testing positive for the virus.
The vote was 8-1 in favor of the decision. The vote allowed the new requirements to take effect immediately. Staff responsibilities required by law are still in place.
The law requires, school nurses, administrators and school staff will continue to address positive, presumptive or confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to a news release. All students and staff who do not have a positive COVID-19 test or symptoms, should return to school or work immediately.
“If students or employees have the following symptoms: fever or chills, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, headache, they should stay home, stay away from others and call their health care provide,” the board of education said in a news release.
Students and employees who have been isolated due to a positive case or COVID-19 symptoms, should not report to school or work until they have completed 10 days of isolation, symptoms have improved and fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.
Face coverings for students and staff at Union County Public Schools are still optional.