If a school is not using stable cohorts, how is quarantine determined? 
A cohort is defined as a stable group with fixed membership that stays together for all courses and activities (e.g., lunch, recess, etc.) and avoids contact with other persons or cohorts. Generally, due to the more prolonged nature of exposure, it is recommended that an entire cohort would be quarantined if there is a positive case among the cohort (as CDPH states in its guidance for quarantine, "likely entire cohort"). 
 
If a school has chosen not to cohort, a close contact requiring quarantine is defined as a person who is <6 feet from a case for >15 minutes. This would likely include all students and staff within six feet of the case during each class; lunch; or other activity. As noted by CDPH guidance, "In some school situations, it may be difficult to determine whether individuals have met this criterion and an entire cohort, classroom, or other group may need to be considered exposed, particularly if people have spent time together indoors."
 

Show All Answers

1. If a student is symptomatic and is sent home, but the parent(s) chooses not to test, does the cohort need to quarantine?
2. If a student presents with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 in Scenario 1 but is known to have underlying medical issues (asthma, allergies, etc.), what is the process?
3. What distancing is required? 
4. What outdoor or indoor band activities may be permitted? 
5. Is there any quarantining required for travel? 
6. If a school is not using stable cohorts, how is quarantine determined? 
7. If a symptomatic student tests negative, what factors would still merit consideration as a presumptive positive?
8. For a child in 3rd grade-High School, can they wear a face shield in place of a face mask?
9. Can a school ask the health department for the lab results of family members of students and staff to verify that a student or staff is to quarantine?
10. Does a school need to verify a positive case with the health department first before proceeding with contact tracing?
11. What is the required documentation (and from what source) a student will need to be exempt from wearing a mask on campus?
12. Is the 15 min. exposure cumulative within a 24 hour period (5 min. here, plus 5 min. there) vs. consecutive 15 minutes?
13. Are 'Z Shields' (or other specific shield types) permitted? What about with a doctor's note?
14. If someone is a close contact of someone who has COVID (e.g. in the same class), would the siblings of the close contact still be allowed to attend school?
15. Should asymptomatic school staff re-test and not work if they receive an inconclusive result?
16. What allowances are there for school-related events?
17. What is the guidance regarding student/staff capacity for the use of the gym on rainy days?
18. If a student or staff member already tested positive and recovered from COVID-19 and they are identified as a close contact to another confirmed positive case, do they need to quarantine again?
19. If a school voluntarily 'pauses' in-person instruction after reopening for in-person instruction does this affect their ability to return to in-person instruction?
20. Can a cohort share sports equipment?