Updated Covid Protocol

EASTERN LOCAL SCHOOLS

COVID-19 UPDATED QUARANTINE PROTOCOL

As per the Ohio Department of Health and the Brown County Health Department, the Eastern Local School District will use the following protocol when a student is identified as a close contact to a positive COVID-19 case.

● All students and staff are strongly encouraged to wear a mask in order to minimize the spread of COVID-19. It is true that wearing a mask eliminates the need to quarantine in most scenarios.

● Students who are exhibiting symptoms of illness are quarantined until recovered from symptoms or have a negative COVID-19 test.

Students who test positively for COVID-19 and have been quarantined for 14 consecutive days, may return when symptoms have improved and are fever-free for 24 hours.

If a student is identified at school as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, a school employee (usually the nurse or health aide) will contact the student's parent/guardian to inform them that the student was in close contact with a positive person in accordance with the CDC guidelines. Close contacts (who do not show signs and/or symptoms of COVID-19) can stay or return at school if they adhere to one of the following options:

● Wear a mask at school consistently for the 14 assigned days (also be isolated while eating).

● Wear a mask for a 5-day period while in attendance at school and submit a negative COVID-19 test on day 6 (administered by a pharmacy or medical professional) and return to school without a mask.

Students who do not select an option from above, will be required to quarantine outside of the school for the time length assigned by the Brown County Health Department.

● Parents/guardians and students should monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 daily for 14 days. If signs and symptoms are still occurring, the student should stay home until they are asymptomatic.

Student athletes who are identified as close contacts or COVID-19 positive will follow the following options as found in the below PDF:

https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/static/responsible/schools/k-12-schools-quarantine-alternative.pdf

*Masks are still optional, but highly recommended for day to day school operations when not considered a close contact.