Coronavirus cases identified among Horry County Schools staff ahead of reopening
Horry County Schools hasn’t begun its school year yet, but state health officials have already confirmed coronavirus cases among its staff.
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control identified COVID-19 cases among faculty at two HCS schools Friday, the first day the department released this specific data. It plans to begin releasing these figures for schools every Tuesday and Friday going forward.
Exact numbers weren’t provided, but DHEC data showed that less than five cases were confirmed among staff at Ocean Drive Elementary and Socastee Middle School. There were also fewer than five cases among staff at Coastal Leadership Academy, a public charter school.
Only those who physically attend school, for instruction or extracurricular activities, will be included in these counts. This data also includes private K-12 schools, where no cases were confirmed among students and staff within Horry County. Many of those schools have already returned to in-person classes.
HCS will begin welcoming back students Tuesday under a hybrid schedule, with students split into two groups attending in-person classes twice per week.
The hybrid model was chosen based on DHEC county data, which currently lists Horry with medium disease activity. An increase in activity could result in all instruction moving online, while a reduction would allow students to return to schools five days per week.
District teachers and staff are required to report to their school building assignments in all circumstances, according to the HCS reopening plan.
