Lexington County schools are back in session, and the county still has a high COVID-19 Community Level according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Two and half school years have passed since the outbreak of the disease, and while businesses and schools seem to be operating pretty much normally, there are still precautions set out by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.

All five school districts are operating relatively close to normal, keeping in mind health and safety precautions, including regular hand washing or sanitizing and directives to stay home if sick.

DHEC wants to ensure the 2022-2023 school year has less interruptions than the past couple of years in terms of virtual learning and quarantining due to COVID.

The department recently issued guidance for schools and childcare centers to alleviate possible interruptions. Their updates include following CDC guidelines during outbreaks and non-outbreaks, encouraging vaccinations for eligible children and encouraging those who contact anyone with the disease to isolate at home.

Outbreaks occur when 20% or more of the people in a shared setting or room are diagnosed or absent due to COVID within 72 hours of each other.

The state health department doesn’t require people who have close contact with COVID-positive individuals to quarantine during non-outbreaks. However, according to the DHEC website, it urges schools and child centers to follow CDC guidelines for masking, testing and quarantining.

As it applies to Lexington County currently, that means DHEC’s recommendation is for universal masking inside schools.

At present, no district in the county requires masks.

“DHEC’s goal is to support schools in providing the safest and least restrictive learning environment possible while keeping everyone safe,” Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC public health director, is quoted. “We recognize that every community is different and may have different transmission levels of COVID-19, so it is important for districts to make the best decision for their individual schools.”

Lexington County School District 3, which covers Batesburg-Leesville, is following guidance and recommendations passed down from DHEC and the state Department of Education, said Mackenzie Taylor, the district’s director of public information and community relations.

Taylor added that the custodial staff continues to clean and sanitize thoroughly while the nurses and faculty emphasize proper hygiene with students.

Lexington County School District 1, the largest district in the county, continues with minimal disruptions and encourages anyone who is sick with COVID or has tested positive to isolate and stay home, according to Amy Wood, the district’s nursing and health services director.

A COVID report found in the Powerschool parent portal is available to fill out should a student contact the illness. Once filled out, an email will be sent explaining further instruction.

Lexington-Richland School District 5, which straddles those two counties, continues to show case numbers on an online dashboard. It  also has ultraviolet purification lights in some buildings to help purify the air and fight COVID and the flu. The purification lights were discussed during the District 5 school board’s last meeting in August.

Lexington County School District 2 continues to provide updates and resources regarding COVID on its website, where it states that it continues to abide by DHEC guidelines.

Students and teachers will be able to be tested through schools, at-home tests and other sites later this fall.