COVID-19 Testing and Reporting

Surveillance Testing

In compliance with the California Department of Public Health Guidelines, all school staff who have contact with students or other staff will participate in surveillance testing on a bimonthly basis as testing capacity permits – rotating 50% of staff to be tested every month to ensure all staff are tested within a two-month period. Staff may be tested by their primary health care provider or at one of the community testing sites. A listing of community sites can be found at www.sccfreetest.org.

As of August 7, 2020, Santa Clara County requires the following protocol for all schools and we will adopt this protocol:

Confirmed COVID-19 Case(s) Response:

• • 1. • School administrators should notify the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department immediately of any positive COVID-19 case by emailing coronavirus@phd.sccgov.org and calling (408) 885-4214. Notify all staff and families in the school community of any positive COVID-19 case while maintaining confidentiality as required by state and federal laws. Information concerning confidentiality can be found https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/sites/default/files/resource_document/file/FERPA%20and%20Coronavirus%20Frequently%20Asked%20Questions.pdf

       • The school site person who will be the contact for the County Public Health Department is our Administrative Assistant – Martha Angeles, martha.angeles@dsj.org and her phone is 408 283 5858.

       • Close off areas used by any sick person and do not use before cleaning and disinfection. To reduce risk of exposure, wait 24 hours before you clean and disinfect. If it is not possible to wait 24 hours, wait as long as practicable. Ensure a safe and correct application of disinfectants using personal protective equipment and ventilation.

       • If stable classroom cohorts have been maintained: All students and staff within the same classroom cohort as the confirmed COVID-19 case should be instructed to get COVID-19 testing around 7 days after the last exposure to the case and remain quarantined at home for 14 days.

       • For middle schools/junior high schools, or any settings in which stable classroom cohorts have NOT been maintained: Utilize class seating rosters and consultation with teachers/staff to identify close contacts to the confirmed COVID-19 case in all classrooms and on-campus activities. A close contact is someone who has been within six feet of the case for a prolonged period of time (at least 15 minutes) regardless of face covering use. Close contacts should be instructed to get COVID-19 testing around 7 days after the last exposure to the case and should remain quarantined at home for 14 days.

       • For all settings: Provide information regarding close contacts to the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department via secure fax or email.

       • No actions need to be taken for persons who have not had close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case, and instead have had close contact with persons who were in direct contact.

Negative test results

• • • Symptomatic individuals, who are not close-contacts and who test negative for COVID-19 can return 72 hours after resolution of fever (if any) and improvement in symptoms.

      1. 1. Documentation of a negative test result should be provided to school administrators.

         2. In lieu of a negative test result, allow students and staff to return to work with a medical note by a physician that provides alternative explanation for symptoms and reason for not ordering COVID-19 testing.
            

    • Individuals who are close contacts to confirmed COVID-19 cases, who test negative at least 7 days after exposure, and remain asymptomatic, can return 14 days after the date of last exposure to the case. If a close contact continues to be exposed to a case during their isolation (e.g. household member), quarantine ends 14 days after the case’s isolation period ends.

Privacy requirements for FERPA and HIPAA will be maintained.