Infectious Disease Control

SCS will ensure a clean workplace, including the regular cleaning of objects and areas that are frequently used, such as: bathrooms, breakrooms, conference rooms, door handles and railings. The Principal will collaborate with the Safety Subcommittee of the Task Force to monitor and coordinate events around an infectious disease outbreak, as well as to create work rules that could be implemented to promote safety through infection control.

All employees should cooperate in taking steps to reduce the transmission of infectious disease in the workplace. The following strategies that have been developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):

• Frequent hand washing with soapy water for at least 20 seconds; If soap and water are not readily available, using a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol; 

• Avoiding touching  eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands; 

• Covering nose and mouth with a face cover when around others; 

• Covering nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing and not wearing a face cover, and discarding used tissues in wastebaskets.  Washing of hands or using sanitizer immediately after.

• Avoiding closed-contact settings, mixing cohorts, or congregating in closed spaces

• Remaining in assigned areas as much as possible

The school will provide alcohol-based hand sanitizers throughout the workplace and in common areas but handwashing is the preferred method for keeping hands clean. Employees will be required to wash hands before using high-touch devices such as computers, telephones, printers, or shared equipment.

Additionally, staff will be required to assist in wiping down surfaces throughout the day and after school. 

Unless otherwise notified, normal attendance and leave policies will remain in place. Individuals who believe they may face particular challenges reporting to work during an infectious disease outbreak should take steps to develop any necessary contingency plans. For example, employees might want to arrange for alternative sources of child care should schools close and/or speak with supervisors about the potential to telecommute temporarily or on an alternative work schedule. 

Telework requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis. While not all positions will be eligible, all requests for temporary telecommuting should be submitted to the Principal for consideration. Employees working remotely are expected to follow all policies and procedures as though they were onsite. 

All nonessential travel should be avoided until further notice. Employees should avoid crowded public transportation when possible. Employees who travel as an essential part of their job should consult with management on appropriate actions. Business-related travel outside the state will not be authorized until further notice. 

Many times, with the best of intentions, employees report to work even though they feel ill. We provide paid leave time and other benefits to compensate employees who are unable to work due to illness.  In addition, if symptoms are mild or an employee is at home due to exposure, the employee will be expected to telework.

During an infectious disease outbreak, it is critical that employees do not report to work while they are ill and/or experiencing any one of the following symptoms:

1. Fever (100.4 or greater)

2. Sore Throat

3. Cough/Shortness of Breath

4. Muscle and/or Body Aches

5. Severe Headache

6. Nausea, Vomiting and/or Diarrhea

7. Loss of Taste and/or Smell

Employees should seek medical attention as needed with a personal medical provider OR at one of the AHEC school clinics.

The department of health guidelines for COVID-19 exposure and returning to work:

An employee who has been excluded from the workplace due a confirmed or potential COVID-19 exposure must self-isolate, but can return to work under the criteria below. The employee is expected to work with the Human Resources Manager to determine the appropriate date to return to work. 

Persons with COVID-19 Who Have Symptoms

Those employees diagnosed with COVID-19 or who have exhibited symptoms of the disease and have been directed to care for themselves at home by a healthcare professional may not return to the workplace until: 

• At least 24 hours have passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and other symptoms have improved (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and,

• At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.

Persons with COVID-19 Who Have Never Developed Symptoms

Those employees that have tested positive for COVID-19, but have never exhibited symptoms of the disease may not return to the workplace until at least 10 days have passed since the date of the employee’s positive COVID-19 diagnostic test (assuming the employee has not subsequently developed symptoms since the positive test) or if they provide a doctor’s note permitting return to work. 

Persons Who Have Had Close Contact with an Individual Confirmed to Have COVID-19

Those employees who had close contact with an individual confirmed to have COVID-19 may return to work under the following conditions:

Scenario 1: An employee who had close contact with someone who has COVID-19 and will not have further contact or interactions with the person while they are sick.

• • May return to work 14 days after the date of last close contact.

Scenario 2: An employee who lives with someone who has COVID-19 (e.g., roommate, partner, family member), the ill person has isolated by staying in a separate bedroom, and the employee has had no close contact with the ill person since they isolated.

• May return to work 14 days after the date the sick person isolated themselves.

Scenario 3: An employee who lives with someone who has COVID-19 and who started 14-day quarantine period because of close contact. The employee had additional close contact with the person during the quarantine or another household member got sick with COVID-19.

• The 14-day quarantine period will be restarted from the last date the employee had close contact with the person or the date that a new household member got sick with COVID-19.

Scenario 4:  An employee lives with someone who has COVID-19 and cannot avoid continued close contact.  The employee is providing direct care to the person who is sick, doesn’t have a separate bedroom to isolate the person who is sick, or lives in close quarters where the employee is unable to keep a physical distance of 6 feet.

• • May return to work 14 days after the ill person meets the criteria to end home isolation (see criteria above for Persons with COVID-19 Who Have Symptoms).

Negative Test Results

An employee may return to work, regardless of the policy outlined above, if they do not have any symptoms of COVID-19, do not have ongoing close contact with someone who has COVID-19, and provide SCS with the negative results of an FDA Emergency Use Authorized COVID-19 molecular assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from at least two consecutive respiratory specimens collected ≥24 hours apart (a total of two negative specimens).

If an employee is out sick or shows symptoms of being ill, it may become necessary for the school to request information from a healthcare provider. In general, the employee would need to provide medical documentation to confirm the need to be absent, to show whether and how an absence relates to the infection, and to know that it is appropriate for the employee to return to work. 

Medical information will remain confidential. In furtherance of this policy, any disclosure of medical information is limited to supervisors, managers, first aid and safety personnel, and government officials as required by law. 

In the event of an infectious disease outbreak, SCS may implement these personal distancing guidelines to minimize the spread of the disease among the staff. 

During the workday, employees are required to: 

• Avoid close contact with others. Employees are encouraged to use the telephone, online conferencing, e-mail or instant messaging to conduct business as much as possible, even when participants are in the same building. 

• Use a face cover over the nose and mouth, and sit at least 6’ from each other if possible; avoid person-to-person contact such as shaking hands. 

• Avoid any unnecessary travel and postpone or cancel nonessential meetings, gatherings, workshops and training sessions that cannot be held by telecommunication methods. 

• Reduce gathering in confined indoor spaces, especially in staff lunch and work rooms, near copy machines, and at the front desk. 

• Use the staff room for restrooms only. 

• Limit deliveries to outside-only and use your own pen to sign receipts. 

• Use a school-issued disinfectant to clean high-touch surfaces after use (i.e. copy machines, paper trimmer, laminator, microwave, school telephone handset, etc.)

Regarding off campus activities, employees are encouraged to: 

• Avoid public transportation (walk, cycle, drive a car) to avoid crowding in enclosed spaces. 

• Avoid recreational or other leisure gatherings where public health and safety guidelines are compromised or in circumstances that may present a health risk. 

• Refrain from unnecessary travel

• Serve as a role model for our students and families; be sure to adhere to all community guidelines and directives when in public

Monitor yourself for illness before leaving for school

If ill, exclude yourself from school/work

Notify Office Manager and School Nurse if ill

Notify Principal and School Nurse if in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with, or placed in quarantine for, an infectious disease.

Be sure to have multiple face coverings (masks, buffs) before leaving for work

Wash hands with soap and water immediately upon entering work space

Keep mask covering over nose and mouth at all times, unless alone in a work space

If entering an area with another person, stay 6’ apart and masked (use Zoom for as many meetings and gatherings as possible); outdoor spaces are better suited for small meetings than indoor spaces

Use designated restrooms as follows:

• K-2: classroom bathrooms

• 3-5: G Wing bathrooms

• Middle School/Specials (portables): Middle School bathrooms

• Library inhabitants: Library bathroom

• Office: Office bathrooms

• Cafeteria/Facilities/Counselors: Staff lounge bathrooms

Sanitize all high touch areas regularly (door knobs, work surfaces, toilet seats)

If you develop symptoms and/or feel ill while at work, text the School Nurse and remain in an isolated space.  The nurse will come to you.

Sanitize all areas before leaving work; wash your face coverings daily

If/when contact tracing requires that you be excluded from the school setting, follow any and all guidelines from the Florida Department of Health- Monroe, Epidemiology Division

Above all, model what you expect.  Respect the health and safety of others at all times.