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COVID-19 Local Update
Class is in session at Tallulah Falls School, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School and Rabun County Schools with positive cases of COVID-19 being reported.
Rabun County Schools
Rabun County Schools reported two new positive COVID-19 cases since last Thursday, resulting in 32 people being quarantined, according to Superintendent April Childers in a statement Tuesday.
That quarantine number includes the two individuals who tested positive.
Since classes began on August 19, the school system has reported a total of five positive COVID-19 tests with 81 people (including the five positive cases) being quarantined as a result.
However, some of those in quarantine have since returned to school after being in quarantine or the 2-week guideline recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Childers said.
The school system is tracking those cases “that require someone else to be in quarantine,” school officials noted last week.“Quarantine is based on having close contact with someone with a positive test for 15 minutes or more.”
“The extra steps that are being taken daily by our faculty and staff to disinfect areas, social distance as much as possible, encouraging frequent hand washing and wearing masks are contributing to preventing the spread of COVID-19,” Childers said.
Tallulah Falls School
“After two weeks of in-person classes, Tallulah Falls School is reporting one positive case of COVID-19 and that student is in isolation,” according to a statement from President and Head of School Larry A. Peevy.
Nine students and one staff member have been quarantined “out of an abundance of caution,” according to the statement. The affected students are participating in the blended learning program.
“I am so proud of our students, parents, faculty and staff who have adhered to the strong protocols in place at TFS,” Peevy said. “Their actions are the reason we only have one positive case reported.”
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School reported one positive COVID-19 case since school began on August 26, but currently has no positive cases on campus.
“We have conducted hundreds of tests on campus since the start of our staggered return for boarding students, with only one Upper School boarding student testing positive,” according to a statement from Head of School Jeff Miles. “This student was asymptomatic and remained in quarantine upon his arrival to campus and until such time as he met the CDC criteria to be released.”
Rabun Gap developed a plan dictating preventive and responsive measures in cases of COVID-19.
“Rabun Gap has been preparing for months for the safe arrival of our students. We developed our Safer Together Plan, which includes preventative and responsive measures, and have had a great opening week on campus,” Miles said in the statement.
At the start of the summer, a policy requiring all boarding students to quarantine upon their arrival to Rabun Gap was implemented.
“Since the start of the summer, our team created a policy that required all boarding students to quarantine upon their arrival to Rabun Gap,” Miles said. “After several days in quarantine, they are required to take a PCR-test for COVID-19.”
“Our testing procedures are in consultation with the Rabun County Public Health Department,” according to Miles.
When students receive negative tests, they can transition out of quarantine and into campus life.
“I remain fully confident that our students, employees, and families will continue to keep our community safe, healthy, and together on campus,” Miles said. “We have conducted hundreds of tests with negative results; our Safer Together Plan is being embraced by our campus community, and we have responded responsibly to a positive case to prevent spread on campus.”