Lexington County School District 3 will implement revised quarantine procedures starting Jan. 5, according to a Nov. 19 post to the district’s website.

When students return from winter break, they will only be required to quarantine or isolate if they meet the following criteria:

- The student tests positive for COVID-19

- The student has a fever and/or other symptoms of COVID-19 regardless of close contact with a positive COVID-19 individual

- The student, who is unvaccinated, lives in the same household as an individual who tests positive for COVID-19.

The district’s schools are all in Batesburg-Leesville and include Batesburg-Leesville Primary School, Batesburg-Leesville Elementary School, Batesburg-Leesville Middle School, Batesburg-Leesville High School and the Lifelong Learning Center.

“Since we returned to face-to-face learning at the start of the 2020-2021 school year, Lexington County School District Three has worked diligently to follow all guidance pertaining to quarantining students who are considered to be close contacts of an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19,” the notice stated. “Without question, this stringent quarantining process has put strain on our students, staff, parents, families and the educational system as a whole, not just in Lexington Three, but across the country as well.”

District 3 will continue to contact trace, notifying parents if their child has come in close contact with someone in school or on a school bus who has tested positive for COVID-19. Parents of these children will be asked to monitor them for symptoms, but such students will not be required to quarantine as was previously the case.

“Symptom-free vaccinated students will not be required to quarantine,” the post clarifies. If the district becomes aware of a “significant COVID-19 spike, or an outbreak in a school, grade level, or individual classroom,” additional quarantines may still be required for a brief period.

“It is our hope that these new quarantine/isolation guidelines will alleviate some of the burdens felt by our learning community, to include our Panther parents, guardians and families,” the notice concluded. “We appreciate your continued support as we strive forward in our mission of preparing all students for the future ... now.”