Lifting of Quarantine Measures on 5th Grade

Dear 5th Grade Parents,

Out of an abundance of caution, this past Wednesday, January 20, 2021, a student in the fifth grade room, who was not feeling well, was taken to the doctor. Although the individual was not experiencing traditional COVID-19 symptoms, the doctor decided to perform a rapid COVID test (also referred to as an "antigen test") which did return a positive result.

Per our requirements from the State of North Carolina, we informed the entire class of the possibility of direct exposure to COVID-19 and placed the entire class under quarantine. 

Because the individual was not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, the doctor sent another specimen to a lab to have the most accurate COVID test (a PCR test) performed to ensure the accuracy of the antigen test result.  Thankfully, on Friday, January 22, we were presented with a negative result to that test.

The State of North Carolina instructs us that if the person also has a PCR test performed in a laboratory within 24-48 hours of the positive antigen test, and that PCR test is negative, the positive antigen test can be considered a false positive and the person can immediately return to school.

This being the case, the 5th grade class will resume on Monday, January 25, 2021.  Classes will be dismissed at 12:00 (noon) on Monday as originally planned.

While we empathize with the many inconveniences this "false positive" caused, we were diligently operating within the constraints placed on us by the State of North Carolina to protect our students and their families with the knowledge that we had at the time.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email us at admin@tcsmonroe.com.