ROCK HALL — With the last day of school less than a month away, Kent County Public Schools students and staff are urged to continue maintaining safe practices to prevent the spread of COVID.
Throughout the school system here, positive case numbers are on the rise.
Should a school reach a positivity rate of 5% or higher over 14 days, the school system highly recommends — but does not require — that students and staff wear masks for 10 days.
Masks are voluntary in Kent County Public Schools buildings — unless there is a classroom or school outbreak.
Masks are available at the schools.
• Fever or chills | • Cough | • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing |
• Fatigue | • Muscle or body aches | • Headache |
• New loss of taste or smell | • Sore throat | • Congestion
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| • Runny nose | • Nausea or vomiting | • Diarrhea |
Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms.
If you test positive for COVID or have suspected COVID — regardless of vaccination status — stay home for at least five full days from the date of symptom onset or the date of the positive test if you have no symptoms.
After the fifth day, if you have no symptoms or if the symptoms are improved — including no fever for at least 24 hours without medication — you may return to school or work.
You must continue to wear a mask around others for five more days.
If you have a fever, continue to stay home until your fever resolves.
If you are exposed to someone with COVID and you are fully vaccinated and boosted, wear a mask around others for 10 days, getting tested on day five if possible.
If you are exposed to someone with COVID but you have not received a booster or are unvaccinated, you are required to stay home for five days after the last close contact with the person who has the virus.
Test on day five if possible.
After that, continue to wear a mask around others for five more days.
The Kent County Health Department continues to offer COVID testing and vaccinations.
The Health Department conducts COVID testing from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. every Monday and Thursday.
The Health Department offers vaccinations from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays.
Appointments are required for testing and vaccinations through the Health Department. Call 410-778-1350 or go online to
kenthd.org to make an appointment.
Kent County Public Schools urges everyone that with the end of the school year so close at hand, now is not the time to let up on COVID safety.