By Dani Heller
Have you noticed that fewer people are having to quarantine based on being in class with a student who has COVID-19?
Previously, all students, faculty, and staff in a class or on the bus of someone that had contracted the virus were mandated to quarantine. Recently, however, WCDOH changed the guidelines for schools, which resulted in less mandatory quarantines.
Under the new requirements, in order to be quarantined a person needs to have been within 6 feet of that person for at least 10 minutes over a 24 hour period. Because Irvington High School has been closely following the social distancing guidelines, fewer students and staff members will need to quarantine, with an exception for students exposed on a bus, or in the cafeteria where masks were not worn.
The modification of these guidelines were a relief for many students and staff who have been quarantined due to being in a situation where they were following all precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID.
Additionally, in the beginning of January, these strict regulations resulted in a shortage of teachers who were able to attend school, requiring all students and staff to learn remotely for a period of time. Now, it can be assured that there likely will not be a situation that would cause the school to close, ensuring a continuity of learning.
