The CDPH is finalizing a School Health Framework Guidance that will address how to prevent the spread of all communicable diseases, including COVID-19, in schools. No new requirements for schools are anticipated. Until that guidance is provided, the 2022-23 guidance remains in effect. Cal/OSHA’s non-emergency guidelines for the workplace, which include exposure notification protocol, remain in effect for school staff.

COVID PROTOCOLS AT-A-GLANCE

(infographic below)

Classroom Exposure:

• Test within 3-5 days after last exposure.

• Close contacts (defined by sharing an indoor space for a cumulative 15 minutes in a 24 hour period) should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings and when near those at higher risk for severe COVID-19 disease

• Classroom teachers will receive an email from our school Nurse with information about the student, the last date of exposure, and the date through which exposed classrooms should mask (Day 10).

• Classroom teachers should share the information with any other adults on campus (special education, counselor, specialists, office staff etc.) who may have been with the student while infectious (defined as 2 days prior to onset of symptoms or positive test)

• The school community will be notified about any outbreaks, but not necessarily each individual case.

Symptoms & Positive Cases

• If symptoms develop, test, and stay home 

• If test result is positive, follow isolation recommendations

• After Day 5, as long as there are no severe symptoms, students/staff may return to school on Day 6 without testing. (The same school rule about a fever applies: students/staff may not return unless fever-free for 24 hours without medicine.)

• Between Day 6 - Day 10 a returning student/staff should wear a mask unless they get two negative tests one day apart before Day 10.

Vaccinations & Boosters

• Staff & Students are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated or boosted (but no proof is required at this time)

Effective March 13, 2023, CDPH has shortened the duration for COVID-related isolation, masking, and infectious periods. As we have done consistently, BVUSD will follow the new guidance. 

The full update is available here, but a summary of changes is as follows:

CLASSROOM NOTICES

• Schools are encouraged to notify families when there is a high case rate across the school site, but no longer when there is a case in a classroom. 

ISOLATION - ACTIVE CASE

• Isolation may end without a test after a full 5 days as long as the individual is without symptoms and no fever for at least 24 hours.  (Previous guidance required a test to end isolation prior to Day 10)

MASKING - ACTIVE CASE

• After isolation has ended, 2 negative tests (one day apart) can be used to remove masks prior to Day 10. (Previous guidance required masks through the end of Day 10)

EXPOSURE

• All individuals are encouraged to test between Day 3 & Day 5 after an exposure (still defined as a sharing indoor space with an active case for a cumulative 15 minutes  in a day with)

• Masking is encouraged for 10 days after an exposure. 

INFECTIOUS PERIOD 

• Symptomatic Cases: After Day 5, symptomatic individuals are no longer considered infectious once symptoms have improved at at least 24 hours have passed without fever and fever-reducing medications. 

• Asymptomatic Cases: Asymptomatic individuals are no longer considered asymptomatic after Day 5. (Previous guidance considered all individuals infections through at least Day 10)

UNCHANGED GUIDANCE

Individuals are still required to isolate and mask while infectious, and the following details remain unchanged:

• If a fever is present, isolation should continue until at least 24 hours after the fever resolves without medication. 

• If symptoms are present, isolation should continue until they have improved and the student feels healthy. 

• Without 2 negative tests (taken a day apart), masking should continue through Day 10.

• Individuals are still considered infections 2 days prior to Day 0. Day 0 is still defined as the onset of symptoms (in symptomatic cases) or the date of the first positive test (in asymptomatic cases). 

As we enter our fourth school year with COVID, the safety protocols continue to become less restrictive and school-based services and tracking systems are beginning to fade. 

BASELINE PROTOCOLS

The guidance set forth has been established by the state (CDPH, Cal/OSHA) and local experts (SoCo PH) as the “floor,” or the minimum agreements required to participate in our community. 

THE "HONOR SYSTEM"

Compliance with the baseline protocols is largely based on an “honor system.”  In other words, it is our expectation that all members of our community act with integrity and demonstrate respect for their schools and each other by adhering  to community protocols regardless of their individual belief systems.

BALANCING MULTIPLE PRIORITIES

In the first 30 months of this virus, we focused heavily on prioritizing physical health. As we enter year 4, we are recognizing the need to prioritize social-emotional health as well. 

In addition to safety protocols and self-care (the primary buzzwords of the past couple years), we need to emphasize efforts to heal and to connect.