What are the COVID rules for Middle Georgia schools? Here’s what you need to know

Middle Georgia school district are shifting rules related to masks and encouraging students and staff to get vaccinated as the delta variant drives up COVID-19 cases.

Recently, Baldwin and Monroe county school leaders changed their district’s mask rules. The Telegraph will update this list of the latest coronavirus policies as they change.

COVID-19 rules across Middle Georgia

• ACE: Grades 6-12 are moving to remote learning Aug. 3-Sept. 13. Students in grades K-5 will remain in classrooms.
• Baldwin County: Masks are required for students, staff, and visitors when inside all Baldwin County School District facilities and on school buses, regardless of vaccination status. Mask will not be required during breakfast/lunch or outdoor activity.

• Bleckley County: Quarantined students and staff can return to classrooms under certain circumstances. However, any student or staff member who is positive for COVID-19 must continue to isolate and may only return after the isolation period.

• Bibb County: Masks are required by the district on school buses and in buildings, but are not required to be worn outdoors or at breakfast/lunch. The district reported Aug. 20 347 students and staffers had tested positive for COVID-19 between Aug. 13-19. Howard Middle School 7th grade cohort led by teachers Crystal Heath, Morris Reece, Marcus Curry and Britni Martin and Burdell-Hunt’s 2nd grade classroom led by teacher Sherida Hick will shift various classes to asynchronous learning beginning Thursday, Aug. 26.

• Houston County: Houston County School District recommends, but doesn’t require, wearing masks and getting a coronavirus vaccine. Buses, classrooms and “high-touch surfaces” will be disinfected regularly. Sick students and staff members will be required to stay home. As of Aug. 25, some 700 students had tested positive for COVID-19. The district has added barriers, one-way hallways and assigned seats.
• Jones County: A temporarily mask mandate will be enforced starting Aug. 23 and lasting until Sept. 17. According to a post on JCHS’s page, the school system will no longer conduct contract tracing for students who are in close contact with positive COVID-19 cases.
• Laurens County: The Laurens County School District is only offering in-person instruction this school year. Masks are required on buses, and recommended but not required in buildings.
• Monroe County: Masks are encouraged, but are not required, and vaccinations are also highly encouraged. Masks are required on buses. The school will contact trace for students who were within six feet of a person who tests positive for 15 minutes or more, and will give parents the option of quarantining their child. Students who quarantine will be excused and will be able to make up work.
• Peach County: According to the district’s website, “vaccinated employees and students are not required to wear masks, unvaccinated employees and students are encouraged to wear masks.”
• Twiggs County: Teachers and staff will undergo a “health screening” before each work day. Masks are encouraged but not required for the unvaccinated while indoors. People who are directly exposed to someone who tests positive for COVID-19 must quarantine for 14 days and get a negative test before returning to in-person classes.
• Wilkinson County: Masks are required for students, teachers and staff in buildings and on buses. Temperatures are checked on arrival, and social distancing must be observed. Staff and student vaccination events will be scheduled throughout the school year.

Is there a school district we should add to this list? Email us at tperrineau@macon.com and let us know.

This story was originally published August 16, 2021 at 10:53 AM.