August 17th, 2022

Dear parents and guardians,
 

Moving forward there will be a stronger focus on individual responsibility for testing and, when a person tests positive, for notifying the school and/or their close contacts about potential exposure.  The school will not conduct contact tracing.

Students/staff who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home for at least 5 days and be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication before leaving home (minimum 5-day home isolation). After that, they may resume normal activities but should wear a well-fitting mask around others, indoors and outdoors, for an additional 5 days. If a well-fitting mask can or will not be worn, isolation for 10 days is indicated. 

Consider testing using an antigen test the morning of day 6. If positive, home isolation should continue for an additional 5 days. 

CDC’s Isolation and Quarantine Calculator is a tool to help determine how long individuals should isolate, quarantine, or take steps to prevent spreading SARS-CoV-2.  

Everybody who was potentially exposed and considered a close contact should monitor for COVID-19 symptoms for 10 days, test immediately if any symptoms appear, and mask, indoors and outdoors, for a minimum of 10 days.  Household contacts will be allowed to attend school as long as they test daily and wear a mask while at school.

We will continue to offer testing on school days and as long as supplies are available.

Updated information can be found on our website: www.usd379.org click on 2022-2023 Safe Return to School Plan.