Action Steps for Covid-19

  • Tested positive for COVID-19.

    • The student must isolate for a minimum of 5 days after onset and may be released after they are (without fever-reducing medication) and show improvement in symptoms.
    • Cases without symptoms should isolate through 5 days after their specimen collection date. 
    • Regardless of symptoms, the student should wear a mask when around others for 10 days following onset/specimen collection.
    • The student is not required to provide a clearance from a medical provider or an SCS school-based health center to return to school.
    • Some severely ill students may need to isolate themselves for a longer period. 
    • Lingering cough or loss of taste or smell should not prevent a case from being released from isolation.
    • If a follow-up PCR test is positive, cases do not need to re-enter isolation as long as they have completed the recommended 5-day isolation and had symptom resolution for a minimum of 24 hours. 

    Any questions, the Contact Tracing Team can be reached at 416-1730.

     

    Action Steps for a student who has been identified as a "close contact" to a positive person. 

     

    Non-boosted or Unvaccinated Close Contacts

    Students should quarantine after exposure to a COVID-19 case if they: 

    Are unvaccinated OR 

    • They have completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and are not boosted.
    • If symptoms develop, close contacts must isolate and be tested for COVID-19 immediately. 
    • Close contacts should quarantine regardless of whether the case was symptomatic. Exposure includes contact with a case during the time period beginning two days prior to the case’s symptom onset (or specimen collection date if the case never experiences symptoms)
    • TDH and CDC recommend a 5-day quarantine at home. 
    • Contacts should get tested on day 5. After that, contacts should self-monitor for symptoms and continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days. 

     

    Boosted or Recently Vaccinated Close Contacts Do not have to quarantine if:

    • They have remained asymptomatic since exposure to COVID-19 and they received a booster dose of vaccine OR 
    • They completed a primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine in the last 6 months (Must be ≥2 weeks following receipt of the second dose) OR • 
    • Completed a primary J&J vaccine series in the last 2 months (Must be ≥ 2 weeks following receipt of single dose).
    • The student is not required to provide a clearance from a medical provider or an SCS school-based health center to return to school. 

    Any questions, the Contact Tracing Team can be reached at 416-1730.