COVID-19 Prevention Plan

THIS IS A LIVING DOCUMENT SUBJECT TO CONTINUOUS REVISION AND CORRECTION CONSISTENT WITH STATE AND LOCAL INDUSTRY GUIDANCE.

Evergreen will align to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidance and CDPH Testing Framework for K–12 Schools to support full-time, in-person instruction at all schools.

According to the CDPH (June 30, 2022), “this guidance is intended to support safe, in-person learning in K-12 schools and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Disease management strategies in K–12 schools are guided by the principle that safe, in-person learning is critical to student well-being and development. COVID-19 is here to stay, but we have learned methods and gained tools to decrease its impact on our health and well-being.”

Our Commitment

To provide a healthy environment in which our students can learn and thrive.
To comply with all state and local health orders, mandates, and guidelines in order to ensure the health and safety of all individuals on campus.

The guidance is based on current scientific knowledge and anticipated trends. It is subject to change, as COVID-19 conditions can shift rapidly and our response must remain nimble and responsive to dynamic challenges. We will continue to communicate updates or revisions of any state and local guidance and/or recommendations for schools. As a community, we will continue to ensure the health and wellness of our students, staff and EESD families together.

Document Created: August 12, 2022

Last Update: March 22, 2023

CDPH Guidance: COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K–12 Schools to Support Safe In-Person Learning, 2022–2023 School Year

Checking Symptoms and Staying Home When You Are Sick

In order to prevent transmission, it is critical for individuals to remain home if sick:

When individuals experience COVID-19 symptoms at home:
- fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit
- cough
- shortness of breath
- fatigue
- muscle or body aches
- headache
- new loss of taste or smell
- sore throat
- nausea or vomiting
- diarrhea
- congestion
It is recommended that students/staff test for COVID-19. Any positive results require immediate isolation. Please notify the school office immediately and follow isolation recommendations above in Guidance for Covid Positive Cases.

If positive for COVID-19:
- Stay home for at least 5 days after the start of symptoms (or after the date of first positive test if no symptoms).
- Isolation can end after Day 5 if symptoms are not present or are resolving and a diagnostic specimen (*Rapid antigen test preferred) collected on Day 5 or later tests negative. Proof of negative results must be provided to the school.
- If unable to test, choosing not to test, or continuing to test positive on Day 5 (or later), isolation can end after Day 10 if fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
- Infected persons are strongly recommended to wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings.
If negative for COVID-19:
- Students may return to school when at least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications; and other symptoms have improved.
- It is recommended that a follow-up COVID test 48 hours after initial test is administered if symptoms persist or worsen.
- Until symptoms resolve, it is strongly recommended to wear a mask.
If a person has symptoms and has been COVID-19 positive within the last 30 days, they are exempted from any testing requirements. They should isolate until 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and other symptoms have improved. If symptoms persist, consult a healthcare provider to confirm an alternative named diagnosis.
Individuals missing school or leaving school early due to COVID symptoms will be reported to County Public Health as a suspected case.

Last updated: December 15, 2022

COVID-19 Symptoms Once at School

Should staff or students develop COVID-19 symptoms while on campus, they will be assessed by the health office. If it is determined that the person needs to be sent home, a staff member will contact the family with the following next steps:

Get tested immediately. A rapid antigen test is preferred. At-home tests may be available at the school office.
If test results are positive, stay home, isolate, AND contact the school office immediately (follow isolation recommendations above in Guidance for Covid Positive Cases).

Last updated: December 15, 2022

Guidance for COVID-19 Positive Cases and Staff

If positive for COVID-19:
- Stay home for at least 5 days
  (date of first positive test if no symptoms). Continue to isolate until symptoms are resolving or until after Day 10.
- Isolation can end after Day 5 if fever free for at least 24 hours (without medication) and symptoms are improving.
- Continue to mask through Day 10.
  - Students may discontinue wearing a mask prior to Day 10 if they produce two negative tests at least 24 hours between tests. Proof of negative tests must be submitted to office staff.
  - Staff must continue to mask through Day 10. (CalOSHA)
- If symptoms are severe, if the infected person is at high risk of serious disease, or if they have questions concerning care, please contact a healthcare provider for available treatments.

Last updated: March 22, 2023

Guidance for Close Contacts with COVID-19

Regardless of vaccination status, when potential exposure to COVID-19 is determined for STUDENTS or STAFF MEMBERS:

A close contact is defined as someone sharing the same indoor airspace, e.g., home, classroom, etc., for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes) during an infected person's infectious period.

Asymptomatic students may continue to go to school/work, and are recommended to test within day 3-5 from last exposure, unless they had COVID in the last 30 days.
Asymptomatic staff may continue to go to school/work, and must test within day 3-5 from last exposure, unless they had COVID in the last 30 days.
If test results are positive, stay home, isolate, AND contact the school office immediately (follow isolation recommendations above in Guidance for Covid Positive Cases)
Rapid tests are available at the school site for parents to administer, if needed. At-home rapid test results may be submitted electronically.
Students may continue to participate in extracurricular activities and sports unless they develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19.
Per CDPH masking guidance, close contact students are strongly recommended to (and close contact staff MUST) wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings and when near those at higher risk for severe COVID-19 disease.
Persons infected within the prior 30 days do not need to be tested, quarantined, or excluded from work unless symptoms develop.
If symptoms develop, test and stay home (see earlier section on symptomatic persons), AND if test result is positive, follow isolation recommendations above in guidance for Covid Positive Cases.
Close contacts will be notified and sent home with a rapid antigen test, as long as supplies are available.

Last updated: December 15, 2022

Other Mitigation Measures (Vaccination, Face Masks, Managing Outbreaks, Cleaning Facilities, Cleaning Hands)

The CDPH encourages families to take voluntary actions, including masking in public indoor settings, and getting the flu shot and updated COVID-19 booster, to protect themselves and their families from multiple respiratory viruses circulating in the state.

Other mitigation strategies based on CDPH guidance:

Vaccinations

Vaccinations prevent illness by working with the body's natural defenses to help safely develop immunity to disease. Not only do vaccinations provide individual-level protection, but high vaccination coverage reduces the burden of disease in schools and communities and may help protect individuals who are not vaccinated or those who may not develop a strong immune response from vaccination.

California strongly recommends that all eligible individuals get vaccinated against COVID-19 and remain up-to-date to protect oneself and reduce transmission of the virus.
Additionally, children have fallen behind on receiving other vaccines over the course of pandemic, placing them and their communities at increased risk of falling ill from other vaccine-preventable illnesses.
Unvaccinated employees must submit weekly test results to immediate supervisors.

Using Facemasks

Masks, particularly high-quality and well-fitting masks, remain highly effective, inexpensive, and dynamic tools to protect oneself and mitigate transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory pathogens.
Each school site has a supply of face masks in case an extra face mask is needed.
Unless otherwise directed by local health departments or local educational agencies, students and staff should follow CDPH masking guidance for the general public, as well as masking guidance for specific situations referenced below (e.g., when having symptoms, being infected, or exposed).

Managing Outbreaks

CDPH will continue to support local health and education officials in managing suspected or confirmed outbreaks of COVID-19.

Recommended Actions:
1. Broad disruptions to in-person learning, such as temporary school or classroom closures, due to COVID-19 should remain a last resort and considered only after all available resources have been exhausted, and only after conferring with local health officials.
2. Local public health officials are encouraged to contact CDPH to learn more about consultation, testing and vaccination resources to support management of COVID-19 outbreaks.

Cleaning Facilities

In general, routine cleaning is enough to sufficiently remove the virus that causes COVID-19 from surfaces. If disinfectants are used, use asthma-safer products.

Recommended action:
1. Drinking fountains may be open and used by students and staff. Routine cleaning is recommended.

Maintaining Clean Hands

Hand hygiene can prevent the spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

Recommended Actions:
1. Schools should teach and reinforce proper handwashing to lower the risk of spreading viruses, including the virus that causes COVID-19.
2. Schools should ensure adequate supplies to support hand hygiene behaviors, including soap, tissues, no-touch trash cans, and hand sanitizers with at least 60 percent alcohol for staff and children who can safely use hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizers should be stored up, away, and out of sight of younger children and should be used only with adult supervision for children ages 5 years and younger.
3. Schools should teach and reinforce covering coughs and sneezes to help keep individuals from getting and spreading infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

Last updated: December 15, 2022

Extra Curricular Activities and Social Gathering Considerations

COVID-19 Information