COVID-19 Prevention Plan

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 please notify the school office immediately and follow recommendations above in Guidance for Covid Positive Cases.

• Stay home if you have COVID-19 symptoms until you have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever reducing medication AND other COVID-19 symptoms are mild and improving.

• Individuals missing school or leaving school early due to COVID symptoms will be reported to County Public Health as a suspected case.

Last updated: February 9, 2024

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, and you have symptoms stay home until you have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever reducing medication AND other COVID-19 symptoms are mild and improving. 

Last updated: February 9, 2024

If positive for COVID-19:

1. Stay home if you have COVID-19 symptoms until you have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever reducing medication AND other COVID-19 symptoms are mild and improving. 

• If you do not have symptoms, you should follow the recommendations below to reduce exposure to others.

• You may attend school or work if you are asymptomatic.

• Review the CDPH symptom guidance to confirm when your child is ready to return to school: Considerations when a Child has Symptoms of Illness 

• The potential infectious period is 2 days before the date symptoms began or the positive test date (if no symptoms) through day 10. (Day 0 is the symptom onset date or positive test date).

2.  Per CalOsha, COVID-19 positive staff are required to mask when they are around other people indoors for the 10 days after they become sick or test positive (if no symptoms). Staff may remove their mask sooner than 10 days if they have two sequential negative tests at least one day apart. Day 0 is symptom onset date or positive test date.

3.  It is strongly recommended that COVID-19 positive students wear a mask when they are around other people indoors for the 10 days after they become sick or test positive (if no symptoms).

4.  Avoid contact with people at higher-risk for severe COVID-19 for 10 days. Higher-risk individuals include the elderly, those who live in congregate care facilities, those who have immunocompromising conditions, and that put them at higher risk for serious illness.

5. Seek Treatment. If you have symptoms, particularly if you are at higher risk for severe COVID-19, speak with a healthcare provider as soon as you test positive. You may be eligible for antiviral medicines or other treatments for COVID-19 antiviral medications work best if taken as soon as possible, and within 5-7 days from when  symptoms started.

6. COVID-19 test kits are available at each school site. Please let your school know if you need a test kit for your student.

We will continue to communicate updates or revisions of any state and local guidance and /or recommendations for schools. 

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 and staff may continue to go to school/work
• If test results are positive, and you have symptoms, stay home until you have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever reducing medication AND other COVID-19 symptoms are mild and improving. 
• Rapid tests are available at the school site for parents to administer, if needed.  
• Students may continue to participate in extracurricular activities and sports unless they develop symptoms for COVID-19.
• Per CDPH masking guidance, close contact students and staff are strongly recommended to 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.
• 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.

Last updated: February 9, 2024

• That outdoors is lower risk. Indoor gatherings are at higher risk. If food is being served, consider serving outdoors, especially since masks can’t be worn while eating or drinking.

• Encourage all persons (staff and attendees) to monitor their own health and stay home if sick or have symptoms.

Last updated: August 12, 2022

Where do I get tested?

• County Fairgrounds, Santa Clara  https://healthvana.com/FAQ/
• With your own Physician/Health Care Provider.
• Santa Clara County Public Health - List of  testing site  https://myturn.ca.gov/testing.html
• Check with your school site for a free at-home test kit

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.

1. 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.

1. 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.

1. 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