Health and Safety during COVID-19
St. Luke School administration, along with St. Luke Church and a parent and teacher focus group have worked hard to develop a framework for St. Luke School.
Every member of the St. Luke community has a shared responsibility to prevent the spread of illness, in particular COVID-19. In addition, every community member has a responsibility to stay home if they are aware of or suspect that they have a communicable illness or have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19.
It is important that all community members adhere to the guidance here, with the understanding that guidelines and protocols may change as there are updated public health guidelines, as well as variations in the public health of our local community.
Personal Safety and Sanitation
***CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status.
School Cleanliness and Sanitization
COVID-19 Health and Safety
SYMPTOM SURVEILLANCE FOR COVID-19
Students with Symptoms
- Parents should monitor their children daily for symptoms of COVID-19:
- High-risk symptoms: fever of 100 or above, cough, shortness of breath/increased work of breathing, loss of sense of taste or smell
- Low-risk symptoms: sore throat, nasal congestion, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, muscle aches, headache, fatigue
- Any student with one high risk or two low risk symptoms should be considered to have a “COVID-like illness” and stay home.
- It is recommended that students who stay home for COVID-like illness be tested for COVID-19 and seen by their physician.
- A student with only one low-risk symptom is considered less-likely to have COVID and should be sent home. These students can return after 24 hours if they are feeling better and no further symptoms develop. This person does not need to see a physician or be tested to be cleared to return to school. (One exception to this rule: young children with nasal discharge may return to school after 24 hours, even if the discharge has not resolved). If symptoms do not resolve quickly, the individual should be assessed by a physician and considered for testing. If this person is in contact with a known COVID-19 case, he or she should be seen by a physician and tested to determine if he or she can return to school or requires isolation.
- Parents must notify the school immediately upon becoming aware of these conditions and will be given further instructions for isolation/quarantine and conditions upon which students may return to school. Teachers will provide class assignments for students who are subject to home quarantine.
- Parents will be notified if a student in their child’s home classroom is known to have contracted COVID-19. Student anonymity will be protected. The local health department will be contacted to discuss proper quarantine measures if a SLS student or teacher contracts COVID-19.
COVID-19 Protocols
COVID-19 Information to know…
Close Contact: someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour time period. Exception: In the K-8th Grade indoor setting, the close contact definition excludes students who were within 3 to 6 feet of an infected student if both students are engaged in consistent and correct use of well-fitting mask. Those who are less than 3 feet with or without mask will be considered close contacts.
Example: Student A spent 5 minutes talking to Student B before school. Later that day Student A & B had a snack break together where they spent another 10 minutes together. That evening Student A loss their sense of smell, developed a fever and upon testing received positive covid-19 results. Student B did not meet the age requirements for the covid vaccine and will now have to quarantine due to being a close contact.
*Close Contact after vaccine: If you have had close contact with someone with Covid-19, you will not need to quarantine as long as you remain symptom free. CDC recommends a PCR test 3-5 days after exposure, even if you don’t have symptoms. You must continue to wear a mask indoors for 2 weeks post exposure to make sure you do not develop any symptoms
Indirect Exposure: being exposed to someone who has been identified as a close contact to someone with Covid-19.
Example: Parent A was in contact with a coworker who has been diagnosed with Covid-19. Student A would be an indirect exposure due to not coming in contact with Parent A’s coworker. Student A would not need to quarantine unless Parent A develops symptoms or test positive for Covid. If Parent A later developed symptoms or tested positive then Student A would then be a close contact and would then begin the isolation from the parent and start the quarantine process. See below for return from isolation/quarantine guidelines.
Confirmed Case: someone who has received a positive covid-19 result from testing. See below for return from isolation/quarantine guidelines.
Isolation: separates an infected person from those who are not. Limit all interaction from the person with the virus from those who do not have the disease.
Example: Parent A has tested positive for Covid-19. Parent A will need to isolate from the rest of the family in the household to help reduce the risk of transmission to the rest of the family. If Parent A is isolating then quarantine would begin for the rest of the family. See below for return from isolation/quarantine guidelines.
Quarantine: restricts the movement of those exposed to the disease to see if they become sick
Example: Teacher A was exposed to Student A who has tested positive for Covid-19. Teacher A would need to isolate at home to not potentially expose the rest of the household and at that time their quarantine would begin. Student A would start isolation to no longer expose the family to the disease. Student A’s family will also start the quarantine period. See below for return from isolation/quarantine guidelines.
Example if family is unable to isolate: Parent A and Parent B have tested positive for Covid-19. Student A in the house is young and needs assistance from parents for normal daily activities. Parents A has been able to isolate from the family and returns to work after quarantine. Parent B has to care for Student A further exposing the student to the virus. It means Student A would be out for the isolation period for Parent B and then Student A would start their quarantine period. See below for return from isolation/quarantine guidelines.
EARLY RETURN GUIDELINES FROM THE CDC (CDC highly encourages 14-day quarantine)
Positive for Covid-19. When to resume normal activities:
- 10-day isolation from others in your household to prevent them from being exposed. Isolation should begin when the symptoms first develop.
- 10-day quarantine from when symptoms first appeared. Quarantine to your household
- 24-hours fever free without fever reducing medication
- Improvement or resolution of symptoms
Asymptomatic (symptom free) but tested positive. When to resume normal activities:
- 10-day isolation/quarantine from the date of positive results
Directly Exposed to someone with Covid-19
- Isolation/Quarantine will begin immediately upon notification.
- Early Release from Quarantine, with a test: 7-day quarantine if the following is met:
- Do not experience any symptoms during quarantine
- Tested for Covid-19 after 5 full days of quarantine with a PCR Test
OR
- Tested for Covid-19 after 7 full days of quarantine with a Rapid antigen test
- After 7 full days of quarantine are met and you receive a NEGATIVE result you may return on day 8 barring no development of symptoms
- Early Release from Quarantine, without a test:
- 10 full days have passed since your most recent exposure
- Do not experience any symptoms during quarantine
***Per CDC Guidelines: IF you discontinue quarantine prior to the ideal 14 days, you should continue to monitor your health and isolate immediately if symptoms develop.
Have you been fully vaccinated? You are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after your final dose of the vaccine. It will be important for administration to know if your child has been fully vaccinated as this will be an aid to contact tracing once we encounter cases on campus. If your child has been fully vaccinated and have close contact with someone with Covid-19, they will not need to quarantine as long as they remain symptom free. CDC recommends a PCR test 3-5 days after exposure, even if they don’t have symptoms (St. Luke will not require testing). They must continue to wear a mask indoors for 2 weeks post exposure to make sure they do not develop any symptoms
St. Luke School reserves the right to review any/all cases on an individual basis and make adjustments to the protocol as needed.
Allyson Ozier, RN, will lead and assist in all medical situations.
St. Luke School will provide a high-quality virtual learning option for families under quarantine. Contact Richard Green for more information.