The Georgia Department of Health released an updated government isolation and quarantine order on Wednesday that will allow teachers and school staff to return to work after exposure to Covid-19 or a positive coronavirus test, regardless of vaccination status, as long as they remain asymptomatic and wear a mask while working.
“Students, parents and educators have made it clear that they want to be in the classroom, and we are exploring many methods to continue safe, personal learning – including updated quarantine and isolation logs, reduced contact tracing requirements and expanded testing capabilities,” it said in the letter from Kemp and Toomey.
Local school districts may continue to develop and follow their own quarantine and isolation requirements as directed.
Reporting positive Covid-19 cases to the state health department is still required, but contact tracing in schools will no longer be mandatory according to the agency’s updated order.
“We know that contact tracing has become more difficult as cases have increased in schools and across the community,” the letter said. “While contact tracing is a ‘best practice’, especially for those at high risk, we understand that it may not always be possible in all cases and therefore can currently be considered an optional service in schools.”
According to data from Johns Hopkins University, the seven-day average of new Covid-19 cases in Georgia was 16,072. Last year around this time, the seven-day average of new Covid-19 cases in the state was 8,442, the data shows.
CNN reached out to the Georgia Association of Educators for comment on the updated arrangement.
