Catholic Schools Onward

Best Practices and New Opportunities as We Move Forward


PLAYBOOK
Guidance for Dealing with
Cases or Suspected of COVID-19

(Please note that as current information becomes available this page will be updated – 08.11.2020.)

Schools will make efforts to monitor the health of their students and staff, although it is not required or suggested by the CDC. Specifically, they suggest schools and Child Care programs are not expected to screen children, students, or staff to identify cases of COVID-19. If a community, or specifically school, has cases of COVID-19, local health officials will help identify those individuals and follow up on next steps.

Below is some specific guidance related to situations involving the school, community and COVID-19.

If a staff member or volunteer has a confirmed case of covid-19

  1. Notify the local health officials – ask for guidance.
  2. Dismiss the staff or volunteer
  3. Dismiss cohort, related to the suspected case of COVID-19,  and quarantine for 14 days  and begin cohort virtual learning. Keep in  Contact  with health department  for guidance.
  4. Discourage the cohort from gathering until during the initial period.
  5. Communicate to staff and families that there was a confirmed case – without using a name or identifying information of the person(s) involved.
  6. Close off the potentially infected area for 24 hours and clean the areas that may have been infected by the  identified case of COVID-19.
  7. The staff/volunteer can return after CDC the person has no fever and no fever-reducing medications for 24 hours.

If a student has a confirmed case of covid-19

  1. Notify the local health officials – ask for guidance.
  2. Dismiss the staff or volunteer
  3. Dismiss cohort, related to the suspected case of COVID-19,  and quarantine for 14 days  and begin cohort virtual learning. Keep in  Contact  with health department  for guidance.
  4. Discourage the cohort from gathering until during the initial period.
  5. Communicate to staff and families that there was a confirmed case – without using a name or identifying information of the person(s) involved.
  6. Close off the potentially infected area for 24 hours and clean the areas that may have been infected by the  identified case of COVID-19.
  7. The staff/volunteer can return after CDC the person has no fever and no fever-reducing medications for 24 hours.
  8. During the initial 2 to 5-day period, evaluate if any other cases related to the case were identified and decide to extend or end the cohort dismissal.
  9. The student can return after the following conditions have been met:
    • 3 days with no fever and
    • Symptoms improved and
    • 10 days since symptoms first appeared

If a student or staff has a suspected case of COVID-19 or is demonstrating symptoms.

  1. Immediately separate staff and children with COVID-19 symptoms (such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath) at school. The individual should be comforted in the ST. Raphael Room until a parent or guardian can come and take them home.  Individuals who are sick should go home or to a healthcare facility depending on how severe their symptoms are.  CDC guidance for caring for oneself and others who are sick should be followed. Indivuals with sympotoms are strongly recommended to get COVID testing.
  2. Provide an isolation room.
  3. Call for home transportation,  if necessary.
  4. Can return when:
    • 3 days with no fever and
    • Symptoms improved and
    • 10 days since symptoms first appeared or,
    • or if cleared by a medical professional.
  5. If case is confirmed, please see aforementioned section (confirmed case of COVID-19)

Quarantine and Closures

  • Single case of COVID-19  ———-  Quarantine cohort for 14 days.
  • 2 or more cases, in 2 or more classes in same grade  ———-  Quarantine entire grade for 14 days
  • Faculty and/or staff in multiple classes  ———-  Quarantine entire school for 14 days
    • 3 within 14 days where exposed at school
    • 6 or more within 14 days (regardless of source)

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