Revised guidelines shorten time away from school
(Spanish) This week, the district met with Yamhill County Public Health and discussed the new CDC/OHA guidelines for shortening isolation and quarantine periods to five days. These updated guidelines are based on what science is showing about transmission of the virus, particularly the omicron variant. After meeting with them, the district believes we can safely implement the five-day isolation and quarantine periods and have listed the new guidelines below:
If you test positive for COVID-19 (Isolate), regardless of your vaccination status:
- Stay home for five (5) days, avoiding contact with others to the fullest extent possible.
- Your child can return to school on day six (6) if they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and their other symptoms have improved.
- Day 0 is the day symptoms began or the day the person took a test that had a positive result. Day 1 is the day after symptoms begin or, if a person does not have symptoms, the day after the person tested positive (use the date the test was collected).
- If they continue to have fever or their other symptoms have not improved after 5 days of isolation, they should stay in isolation until they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and their other symptoms have improved.
- Individuals should continue to wear a well-fitting mask (e.g., KN95) around others at home and in public places for 5 additional days (day 6 through day 10) after the end of their 5-day isolation.
“Up-to-Date” on Vaccinations
Within the K-12 setting, those who are considered up to date with their COVID-19 vaccination include:
- Individuals 18 or older (including students) who have received all recommended vaccine doses, including boosters and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people.
- Youth 5-17 years who have completed the two-shot series of COVID-19 vaccines.
- Individuals who have confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days (individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19.)
If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 (Quarantine) and are up to date on vaccinations:
- You can continue to attend school, as long as you stay asymptomatic.
If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 (Quarantine) outside of the school setting and are unvaccinated or not up to date on vaccinations:
- Stay home for five (5) days. After that continue to wear a mask around others for five (5) additional days.
- After day five (5), you can return to school if you are asymptomatic
If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 (Quarantine) inside of the school setting and are unvaccinated or not up to date on vaccinations, you are eligible for the Test to Stay program
- You can take a rapid test at school and if the test is negative you can remain in school. If you test positive, you will need to isolate for five (5) days.
- You will also need to test on day five (5).
If you tested positive or had an exposure this week and were told you had to isolate/quarantine for ten (10) days you will be receiving a message from the district with your new date to return to school.
Thank you for your patience and understanding of the changes being made. Our intention is to always keep our students and staff safe, while also ensuring our children have the fullest access possible to in-person learning.
Updated from: 1/7/22