DHEC offers return-to-school advice

The state health agency recommends that, as school classes return from the holidays, all students should wear masks and everyone, as much as possible, social distance in the school buildings.  Oconee County public school classes resume tomorrow.  Dr. Simmer, the DHEC executive director, says although Omicron has caused a proliferation of new COVID-19 cases, any decision whether to close a school belongs to that area’s school board.  It’s DHEC’s goal, Simmer says, to keep as many students as possible in the classrooms where their chances to learn are considerably better than they would be by virtual learning.