Positive cases related to a school setting are considered high-priority cases for the DPH, and if they are identified through initial case investigation or contact tracing, a DPH epidemiologist will begin a detailed investigation. Likewise, if the school notifies the DPH of a positive case, the DPH will assign a DPH epidemiologist to the case.
The person who tested positive will be instructed to self-isolate for a time period that depends on when he or she developed symptoms or had the test done. A person who tests positive will be instructed to stay in touch with the DPH. the DPH will issue an email to the individual (or a parent/guardian for a student) when the individual is cleared to return to school. WMS will require individuals to share this documentation with the school nurse before allowing someone who tested positive to return to school.
Only close contacts of the person who tested positive will be required to quarantine. For example:
- If a teacher tests positive but has consistently worn a mask and was not closer than 6 feet for more than 15 consecutive minutes to any of their students, then the students do not need to quarantine.
- If a student tests positive and sat at a desk less than six feet apart from another student for more than 15 minutes and did not wear a mask, the student next to the positive case does need to quarantine.
- If a student who tested positive sat three feet apart from another student for more than 15 minutes but was wearing a mask the whole time, the student next to the positive case would not need to quarantine.
- We understand that there will be scenarios where, due to the nature of school activities, staff may be uncertain about whether these protocols were followed. The school nurse and COVID coordinator should always work with the assigned DPH epidemiologist, who will help the school make a determination on whether quarantine is necessary based on available information.
- Also, close contacts of close contacts may not need to quarantine. For instance, a sibling in the household of a positive case should be considered a close contact and should quarantine and be tested. Close contacts of the sibling (e.g., other students in the same classroom as the sibling) do not need to quarantine unless the sibling’s results come back positive, but they should self-monitor for symptoms.
- People who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they have been fully vaccinated against the disease and show no symptoms.
A DPH epidemiologist will assist a school in running through the above scenarios. In summary, it is unlikely that an entire class will need to quarantine, or an entire school would shut down in the event of a positive case, unless social distancing and mask requirements are not adhered to.
