CSO - Playbook

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 – 08.25.2021.)

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. After speaking with the health department and discussing the situation related to the exposure, implement the plan directed from the health department on who needs to be quarantined.
  3. Communicate to staff and families that there was a confirmed case – without using a name or identifying information of the person(s) involved.
  4. During the initial 2 – 5 day period, evaluate if any other cases related to the case were identified and make a decision to extend or end the classroom dismissal.
  5. The staff/volunteer can return based on the guidance from the health department.

If a student has a confirmed case of COVID-19

  1. Notify the local health officials – ask for guidance.
  2. After speaking with the health department and discussing the situation related to the exposure, implement the plan directed from the health department on who needs to be quarantined.
  3. Communicate to staff and families that there was a confirmed case without using a name or identifying information of the person(s) involved.
  4. Close off the potentially infected areas if recommended to do so by the health department.

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.  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.
  2. If the school is equipped and the parents have given permission, provide an isolation room.
  3. Call for home transportation, if necessary.
  4. Return is based on guidance from the health department.
  5. Report the case to the Archdiocesan Tracker.
Situation Unvaccinated Student
Not Wearing a Mask		 Unvaccinated Student
Wearing a Mask		 Vaccinated Student
Wearing Masks Required to have a signed waiver Will need to wear a mask Mask optional
Close Contact with a COVID Case Will need to follow quarantine procedures Will not need to quarantine Will not need to quarantine
Test Positive for COVID Quarantine for 10 days Quarantine for 10 days Quarantine for 10 days

Defined Quarantine Procedures

A child that is required to follow quarantine procedures will need to quarantine for a minimum of five (5) days.  After five days, the child can:

  • Get a COVID test and, if negative, can return after seven (7) days
  • Not get a COVID test and return after ten (10) days

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Specific Situations

If a student, teacher or staff member has been vaccinated then comes in close contact with COVID (indoors or outdoors), do they have to quarantine?  If so, how long?  Do they need to get a COVID negative test result to return to school?  If so, when should they get the COVID test?

The current recommendation, per the CDC and HAN 583, is if a fully vaccinated person is exposed to someone with COVID-19 they do not need to quarantine.  However, they should:

  • get tested 2 – 5 days after exposure, even if they do not have symptoms.
  • wear a mask indoors and in public for 14 days following the exposure, or until their test results are negative.
  • isolate for 10 days if their test result is positive.

If someone if fully vaccinated and develops COVID-like symptoms, they should isolate and be tested for COVID.  However, keep in mind that the CDC has provided an exclusion to the close contact definition for students who were within 3 to 6 feet of an infected student where:

  • both students were engaged in consistent and correct use of well-fitting face masks, and
  • other K-12 school prevention strategies (i.e., universal and correct mask use, physical distancing, increased ventilation) were in place in the K-12 setting.

This exception does not apply to teachers, staff or other adults in the indoor classroom setting.

Outdoor classes and sport.  Do students have to wear a mask regardless of their vaccination status?

Mask use is strongly recommended indoors for all individuals, regardless of their vaccination status in the K-12 setting.

When a child wearing a mask, but is not vaccinated, comes in close contact with COVID-19 do they need to quarantine?

At this time, the CDC says “No”.  As long as the students are social distancing and wearing masks they will not have to quarantine if the come into close contact with someone that has COVID.  They would have to get a test, but that is it unless they start to show signs of being sick.  Then they would have to quarantine.  Adults would still have to quarantine.

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