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?

In order to protect others from possible COVID, we have to assume that the student is positive and have them isolate for 10 days from symptom onset AND 24 hours without fever AND improving symptoms. Schools may consider sending cohort members and/or other close contacts home to quarantine for 14 days from their last contact with the symptomatic student.

In cases where individuals are symptomatic; AND known contacts of a confirmed case; AND have been at school while infectious, quarantine of a cohort/close contacts (following Scenario 3) is recommended even in the absence of a confirmatory test, as this meets the CDC definition of a probable case and could pose a risk of undetected wider spread if not addressed.

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?

As stated in CDPH guidance: "If a student is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, staff should communicate with the parent/caregiver and refer to the student’s health history form and/or emergency card." The student should be excluded from school unless it can be clearly established that the symptoms are explained by a non-infectious condition. A note from the student’s medical provider is the best mechanism to clearly establish that such a situation exists. However, information provided by the student’s parent/caregiver and included in the student’s health history form and/or emergency card may also establish that such a situation exists in certain situations (e.g. seasonal allergy that have been clearly documented at baseline, but not formally diagnosed by a medical professional). Alternatively, the student can be tested for COVID-19 and return to school with a negative test 72 hours after symptoms resolve. 

3. What distancing is required? 

The California Department of Public Health guidelines for schools require schools to “[m]aximize space between seating and desks. Distance teacher and other staff desks at least six feet away from student desks. Consider ways to establish separation of students through other means if practicable, such as, six feet between desks, where practicable, partitions between desks, markings on classroom floors to promote distancing or arranging desks in a way that minimizes face-to-face contact.” 

Placer County Public Health has not imposed additional requirements for schools beyond the CDPH requirements. From the perspective of virus transmission, increasing distance between students reduces the risk of transmitting the virus through respiratory droplets. The larger the distance, the lower the risk. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics has indicated, “In many school settings, 6 feet between students is not feasible without drastically limiting the number of students. Some countries have been able to successfully reopen schools after first controlling community-wide spread of SARS-CoV-2 while using 3 feet of distance between students without increases in community spread. Physical distance between desks should follow current public health guidance. In the absence of specific guidance, desks should be placed at least 3 feet apart, and ideally 6 feet apart. If desks are spaced less than 6 feet apart, face coverings should be strongly encouraged and adhere to public health guidance. In many jurisdictions, face coverings are mandatory for children in public settings, including schools. Schools should weigh the benefits of strict adherence to a 6-feet spacing rule between students with the potential downside if remote learning is the only alternative.” 

4. What outdoor or indoor band activities may be permitted? 

According to the CDPH Schools Guidance FAQs: "Outdoor singing and band practice are permitted, provided that precautions such as physical distancing and mask wearing are implemented to the maximum extent possible. Playing of wind instruments (any instrument played by the mouth, such as a trumpet or clarinet) is strongly discouraged. School officials, staff, parents, and students should be aware of the increased likelihood for transmission from exhaled droplets during singing and band practice, and physical distancing beyond 6 feet is strongly recommended for any of these activities."

5. Is there any quarantining required for travel? 

As the COVID-19 situation around the world changes, CDC is monitoring COVID-19 risk in each country and making travel recommendations. Currently there is not a federal requirement for U.S. nationals to quarantine following international travel. If a school wishes to make it their policy, they could choose a consistent approach (e.g., travel to Level 3 Warning areas as listed on the CDC Travel page: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map-and-travel-notices.html). However, note that there is also community spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. and locally.  

For state travel advisories or restrictions, visit the covid19.ca.gov website.

6. 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."

 

7. If a symptomatic student tests negative, what factors would still merit consideration as a presumptive positive?

If a symptomatic student is in the same cohort as a confirmed case or is linked by the case investigation, they should be classified as a "probable" case and follow the same symptom-based clearance as confirmed cases before being released from isolation / returning to school. If the investigation determines it is not the case, it can be treated as a negative and follow return protocol for other illnesses.

8. For a child in 3rd grade-High School, can they wear a face shield in place of a face mask?

According to the COVID-19 Industry Guidance: Schools and School-Based Programs, for children between 2 years old and 2nd grade, a face shield is an acceptable alternative for children who cannot wear a face covering properly. For those in third grade and above, face coverings are required unless exempt. Potentially, those exempt due to a medical condition could wear a shield per general state guidance. 

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?

No, Public Health does not share results of any person that is not a student or staff member in a particular school. However, we can provide verification that one of their students or staff have been identified as a close contact to a positive case and will need to quarantine, and share the dates of that quarantine.  

10. Does a school need to verify a positive case with the health department first before proceeding with contact tracing?

Many times a school is notified of a positive case before the health department has received the lab result, so we cannot always immediately verify whether it’s a case or not. We recommend that that the school proceed with the contact tracing even without verification of the health department that a case is lab confirmed. They can also ask the case to send their result to the school for verification. Schools should report positive cases to Public Health.

11. What is the required documentation (and from what source) a student will need to be exempt from wearing a mask on campus?

Individuals claiming exemption should note which exemption they are claiming under the CDPH guidance (page 2). Schools can determine their own documentation requirements.

12. Is the 15 min. exposure cumulative within a 24 hour period (5 min. here, plus 5 min. there) vs. consecutive 15 minutes?

The CDC has now updated its guidance for close contact and it is cumulative over 24 hours: "Someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period* starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated. 

* Individual exposures added together over a 24-hour period (e.g., three 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes). Data are limited, making it difficult to precisely define “close contact;” however, 15 cumulative minutes of exposure at a distance of 6 feet or less can be used as an operational definition for contact investigation. Factors to consider when defining close contact include proximity (closer distance likely increases exposure risk), the duration of exposure (longer exposure time likely increases exposure risk), whether the infected individual has symptoms (the period around onset of symptoms is associated with the highest levels of viral shedding), if the infected person was likely to generate respiratory aerosols (e.g., was coughing, singing, shouting), and other environmental factors (crowding, adequacy of ventilation, whether exposure was indoors or outdoors). Because the general public has not received training on proper selection and use of respiratory PPE, such as an N95, the determination of close contact should generally be made irrespective of whether the contact was wearing respiratory PPE.  At this time, differential determination of close contact for those using fabric face coverings is not recommended."

13. Are 'Z Shields' (or other specific shield types) permitted? What about with a doctor's note?

The only shields explicitly permitted by state guidance are those with a drape (and only for those who are exempt from face covering use): "Persons exempted from wearing a face covering due to a medical condition who are employed in a job involving regular contact with others should wear a non-restrictive alternative, such as a face shield with a drape on the bottom edge, as long as their condition permits it." 

If a physician has indicated that the individual’s condition does not permit that type of shield, they are therefore not required to wear it. 

The CDC has detailed recommendations for situations where face shields are the only option. They point to available data suggesting face shields that are ’hooded’ or ’wrap around the sides of the wearer’s face’ provide better source control.

There is not sufficient scientific evidence for Public Health to provide formal recommendations on other types of shields outside of existing CDPH and CDC guidance.

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?

The sibling should quarantine if the close contact tests positive OR develops symptoms. Otherwise, contacts of contacts are not required to quarantine.

15. Should asymptomatic school staff re-test and not work if they receive an inconclusive result?

Sometimes an inconclusive result means the sample was insufficient to test and get an accurate result. These staff should be retested, but if they are asymptomatic and have not been exposed, they can continue to work in the meantime.

16. What allowances are there for school-related events?

Events not explicitly permitted in the schools guidance would need to adhere to the gatherings guidance for the general public.

17. What is the guidance regarding student/staff capacity for the use of the gym on rainy days?

The schools guidance says (p. 14): "Indoor physical conditioning and training is allowed only in counties where gyms and fitness centers are allowed to operate indoors."

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?

Per the CDC, if a person has a new exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and meets all of the following criteria:

1. Has recovered from laboratory-confirmed (PCR or antigen) SARS-CoV-2 infection and has already met criteria to end isolation
2. Is within the first 3 months following the onset of symptoms of their initial confirmed infection, or within the first 3 months of their first positive viral test if they were asymptomatic during initial infection
3. Has remained asymptomatic since the new exposure

then that person does not require quarantine or repeat testing for SARS-CoV-2 in the context of this new exposure.

If they do not meet this criteria, then they must 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?

It is Public Health’s understanding that schools that have fully reopened for in-person instruction may temporarily ’pause’ to implement distance learning and resume in-person instruction at any time, regardless of the county’s tier status.

20. Can a cohort share sports equipment?

The youth sport guidance states: "Avoid equipment sharing, and if unavoidable, clean and disinfect shared equipment between use by different people to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread."