New Quarantine Guidance For Students In Polk County

POLK COUNTY, FL — Polk County Public Schools District is adjusting to the new quarantine recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a news release.

Previously, if a student was exposed to a positive case of coronavirus, they would have to quarantine for 14 days. The CDC recently released new guidelines that recommend anyone who has been exposed to stay home for 10 days. PCPS began implementing these changes Tuesday.

Over the next several days, PCPS coronavirus call center employees will contact individuals currently on quarantine to advise them of their options for returning to work or school, officials said.

District officials said the Florida Department of Health in Polk County is recommending that PCPS reduce the quarantine period from 14 days to 10 days for asymptomatic individuals who have come into close contact with a positive case. This change will allow students to return to the classroom and employees to return to their work sites more quickly.

However, at this time, the Florida Department of Health in Polk County is not recommending that PCPS implement a seven-day quarantine with a negative PCR test, staff members said.

This option will present operational and logistical challenges that will take time to address.

"We are working together to address these needs, and we will update our community when we are able to do so,” said PCPS Deputy Superintendent John Hill.

For more information, contact the PCPS call center at 863-298-5206, or the FDOH Polk office at 863-519-7911.