Health Services Update 10/1/20

Our student body and staff have been closely adhering to our COVID-19 safety protocols including mask wearing, hand washing, and physical distancing. We are particularly grateful to our staff and student families for their continued efforts to stay home at the first sign of symptoms. These measures, taken in combination, greatly reduce the risk of additional transmission.

When someone tests positive for COVID-19, the results are sent to the health department in their town.  The local health department is responsible for reaching out to provide support to individuals who have tested positive so they can safely remain in medical isolation for a minimum of 10 days.  Sometimes there is a slight delay for the test results to reach the health department.  To ensure timely notification to the schools, staff and families are asked to notify their school nurse, principal, or the Director of Health Services, Cheryl Barczak barczakc@nak12.com, of any positive results. They will coordinate with the health department to begin contact tracing.

• Contact tracing and notification begins as soon as possible.  Close contacts are defined as those who have been within 6 feet of a confirmed positive individual for at least fifteen minutes during the infectious period (48 hours prior to symptom onset or, in the case of an asymptomatic individual, 48 hours prior to a positive test result).  The building school nurse and principal have access to class rosters, seating charts and team/activity rosters to assist with identifying close contacts.

• Communication by the health department is made to any staff member and/or parents of students who have been identified to be a close contact, notifying them that there has been a positive test without naming the person who tested positive.

• Close contacts should not return to school until they have quarantined for 14 days.  They will be instructed to be tested 4-5 days after the exposure date, but must remain in quarantine even if the test result is negative, due to the 2-14 day incubation period of the virus. Each school will contact students regarding academic work during this quarantine period. 

• When all close contacts have been notified by the health department, the school principal will use the following school-based communication (sample letter).

Additional protocols for responding to COVID-19 scenarios in school, on the bus or in community settings can be found here: COVID-19 scenarios in school

Thank you for continuing to support our mitigation efforts.  Your vigilance and active participation are key to keeping our schools open and our community safe.