In the community many are believed ill

In answer to a 101.7/WGOG NEWS inquiry, “SDOC does not have any regulation/policy that requires cancellation of a school if a certain percentage of students are absent due to sickness”, according to a district spokeswoman. The Oconee district yesterday shared the following statement from Sherry McLaughlin, district nursing supervisor, “SDOC follows the School Exclusion List for respiratory illnesses including, but not limited to: Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV. These guidelines are provided by the Department of Public Health (DPH), formerly known as DHEC, which states a child will be ‘excluded until fever free for 24 hours without the aid of a fever reducing medication and well enough for routine activities.” District spokeswoman Jennifer Dodd quotes the nursing supervisor as saying she spoke yesterday with DPH specifically about whether it would be their practice to close a school upon reaching a certain level of illness. Officials stated they’ve never closed schools due to influenza.