COVID-19 Information
COVID 19 has changed the lives of all of us. It has also changed school procedures. Your school nurse is a great resource for any questions you may have. Also please check your school’s health office website, the HUUSD website, and your school’s handbook for information about COVID 19. Because the coronavirus is a new virus, information is constantly changing. Please refer to our websites and those of the CDC and Vermont’s Department of Health for the latest information.
COVID 19 has changed the lives of all of us. It has also changed school procedures. Your school nurse is a great resource for any questions you may have. Also please check your school’s health office website, the HUUSD website, and your school’s handbook for information about COVID 19. Because the coronavirus is a new virus, information is constantly changing. Please refer to our websites and those of the CDC and Vermont’s Department of Health for the latest information.
Please note that children and staff will be screened daily for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Screening will also take place if a student or staff member leaves school grounds and then returns.
Please note that children and staff will be screened daily for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Screening will also take place if a student or staff member leaves school grounds and then returns.
The following is expected of all staff and students:
The following is expected of all staff and students:
● If your student or a staff member is sick - stay home!
● If your student or a staff member is sick - stay home!
● Masks must be worn by everyone: staff, students, and anyone entering our schools
● Masks must be worn by everyone: staff, students, and anyone entering our schools
● Frequent hand washing
● Frequent hand washing
● Social distancing of 6 feet
● Social distancing of 6 feet
Daily Health Screening
Daily Health Screening
How will students and staff be screened prior to entering school? All students will be temperature screened at first point of contact prior to entering school:
How will students and staff be screened prior to entering school? All students will be temperature screened at first point of contact prior to entering school:
● Bus students: Prior to getting on the bus (Parent/Guardian will need to be at bus stop) An additional adult will be riding the bus, the screener will not be the bus driver
● Bus students: Prior to getting on the bus (Parent/Guardian will need to be at bus stop) An additional adult will be riding the bus, the screener will not be the bus driver
● Drop off: completed prior to students entering the building (may be done while students are still in the car)
● Drop off: completed prior to students entering the building (may be done while students are still in the car)
● Staff will self assess the screening questions and have their temperature checked at the school at a specified entrance designated by each school
● Staff will self assess the screening questions and have their temperature checked at the school at a specified entrance designated by each school
The Daily Health Check
The Daily Health Check
The following questions will be asked daily by screeners at the bus stop or on arrival to school if a student is not riding the bus:
The following questions will be asked daily by screeners at the bus stop or on arrival to school if a student is not riding the bus:
1. Have you been in close contact with a person with COVID-19 in the last 14 days? Exposure is defined as: close contact with a person who has COVID-19 within the last 14 days. Based on our current knowledge, a close contact is someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 48 hours before illness onset until the time the patient is isolated
1. Have you been in close contact with a person with COVID-19 in the last 14 days? Exposure is defined as: close contact with a person who has COVID-19 within the last 14 days. Based on our current knowledge, a close contact is someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 48 hours before illness onset until the time the patient is isolated
2. How are you feeling this morning? Have you felt unwell with any of the following symptoms: Do you have a cough, shortness of breath, chills fatigue, muscle pain or body aches, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea (diarrhea is defined as frequent loose or watery stools compared to child’s normal pattern)?
2. How are you feeling this morning? Have you felt unwell with any of the following symptoms: Do you have a cough, shortness of breath, chills fatigue, muscle pain or body aches, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea (diarrhea is defined as frequent loose or watery stools compared to child’s normal pattern)?
3. Have you traveled outside of the state in the last 14 days to a place which requires quarantining when you return? See guidance recommended by the Agency of Commerce and Community Development.
3. Have you traveled outside of the state in the last 14 days to a place which requires quarantining when you return? See guidance recommended by the Agency of Commerce and Community Development.
● Temperatures will be taken daily with a non contact thermometer. Schools should conduct temperature screening of students. This should occur at the first point of contact.
● Temperatures will be taken daily with a non contact thermometer. Schools should conduct temperature screening of students. This should occur at the first point of contact.
● Students will be checked off when passing screenings. Any abnormal findings will be documented and shared with the student's parents, the school nurses, and an administrator.
● Students will be checked off when passing screenings. Any abnormal findings will be documented and shared with the student's parents, the school nurses, and an administrator.
● Students not passing screenings will be required to stay home. The school nurse will follow up with students and families who do not pass screening requirements.
● Students not passing screenings will be required to stay home. The school nurse will follow up with students and families who do not pass screening requirements.
● Students who have COVID-19 exposure, or signs/symptoms of COVID-19 must not come to school or should be returned to their parent/caregiver as soon as possible.
● Students who have COVID-19 exposure, or signs/symptoms of COVID-19 must not come to school or should be returned to their parent/caregiver as soon as possible.
Criteria for sending a staff or student home:
Criteria for sending a staff or student home:
Any symptoms illness or of COVID 19 such as:
Any symptoms illness or of COVID 19 such as:
● Cough
● Cough
● Temperature greater or equal to 100.4
● Temperature greater or equal to 100.4
● Shortness of breath
● Shortness of breath
● Difficulty breathing
● Difficulty breathing
● Chills
● Chills
● Repeated shaking with chills
● Repeated shaking with chills
● Muscle pain
● Muscle pain
● Headache
● Headache
● Sore throat
● Sore throat
● New loss of taste or smell
● New loss of taste or smell
● A significant new rash particularly when other symptoms are present
● A significant new rash particularly when other symptoms are present
● Fatigue
● Fatigue
● Nausea and Vomiting
● Nausea and Vomiting
● Diarrhea
● Diarrhea
● Large amounts of nasal discharge in the absence of an allergy diagnosis
● Large amounts of nasal discharge in the absence of an allergy diagnosis
Staff and students DO NOT have to go home if:
Staff and students DO NOT have to go home if:
● Allergy symptoms without fever that cause coughing and clear runny nose if they have medically diagnosed allergies and follow medical treatment plans
● Allergy symptoms without fever that cause coughing and clear runny nose if they have medically diagnosed allergies and follow medical treatment plans
● Well controlled asthma
● Well controlled asthma
Criteria for Students to Return to School
Criteria for Students to Return to School
● We will work with a student’s provider to determine the need for further evaluation and
● We will work with a student’s provider to determine the need for further evaluation and
guidance on return to school.
guidance on return to school.
● Criteria Pending results of COVID test -
● Criteria Pending results of COVID test -
○ Families will make appointments with providers to be assessed and possibly tested.
○ Families will make appointments with providers to be assessed and possibly tested.
○ Students should remain at home until the test results are in or the provider has cleared them or with the CDC recommendations above.
○ Students should remain at home until the test results are in or the provider has cleared them or with the CDC recommendations above.
○ Currently waiting for additional guidance from the Vermont Department of Health.
○ Currently waiting for additional guidance from the Vermont Department of Health.