Changes were made to Kosciusko School District’s COVID-19 policy at its recent Jan. 10 meeting. In addition to masks being required by all while indoors, quarantine periods will be reduced to five days if individuals are no longer showing symptoms. Language was also changed concerning the requirements for an outbreak quarantine. For a school to shut down due to an outbreak, 10% or more of the school’s total population must test positive for COVID-19. For instance, at Kosciusko High School, it would take around 75 or more individuals testing positive to have the district consider it an outbreak. If multiple students in a class or an athletic team test positive, parents will be notified and will continue to have the option to quarantine their child.
“Our objective is to stay in school as safe as we possibly can,” said Superintendent Billy Ellzey.
The Attala County School District also updated its policy to adopt the quarantine policy now recommended by the Mississippi Department of Health.
If anyone tests positive for COVID-19, they will be required to quarantine for five days. If they are vaccinated, they can then return as long as they wear a mask for the next 10 days. If they are unvaccinated, they must complete an additional five days of quarantine, followed by returning with five days wearing a mask.
Superintendent Kyle Hammond said if a doctor recommends a different course for a specific case, the doctor’s recommendation will be followed.
