DHEC reports COVID cases at SC schools. Here’s what Beaufort County, Jasper look like
As of Friday, Beaufort County’s K-12 schools have zero reported COVID-19 cases — but not every private school is included in the data from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
DHEC announced Tuesday that it would begin a twice-weekly report on COVID cases at public, charter and private schools across the state. It released the first round of that reporting Friday.
The state lists 158 total cases, 89 of which are students and 69 of which are school employees.
While there are no cases reported in Beaufort County, only two private schools — Heritage Academy and Beaufort Christian School — are included in the data.
“Less than five” cases were reported in Jasper County. All of the reported cases were at Ridgeland Elementary, which closed on Aug. 17 after three employees tested positive for COVID-19.
Students had returned to Ridgeland Elementary School the week before the closure to complete face-to-face assessment activities and instruction for preschool through eighth-grade students, which was made mandatory by the state. It was the first time students had returned to the school since the pandemic began in the spring.
Zero student cases were reported at Ridgeland Elementary Friday. Jasper County School District began fully-virtual instruction on Aug. 17, and announced it would suspend all extracurriculars, including sports, indefinitely on Aug. 26.
DHEC will include in its school case reporting only “individuals who physically attend school on a regular basis,” according to the agency’s Tuesday press release.
“Sports coaches, tutors, part-time employees, kitchen staff, custodial and maintenance workers and other school employees with a physical presence in schools will be included in these reports,” according to the release.
“Those students who participate in virtual instruction but are on campus regularly for extracurricular activities will also be included.”
Beaufort County School District will begin fully virtual instruction for all 30 schools on Sept. 8, though about 200 “low-incidence disability” students will be allowed to return to buildings for hybrid instruction starting Sept. 14. The district has begun practices for fall sports.
The school reporting dashboard is available at scdhec.gov/COVID19schools.