COVID Procedures & Protocols

STA COVID-19 Illness and Quarantine GuidelinesSYMPTOMS
Symptoms are ANY of the following, unless they have been diagnosed by a physician as symptoms of a non-COVID-19 related illness:

  • Fever (100 degreeF or higher) or chills
  • New cough (for anyone with chronic allergies/asthma, a change from baseline)
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue and body aches
  • New onset of headache (for those with migraines, or other chronic headache syndromes, a change from baseline)
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat (for anyone with chronic allergies, a change from baseline)
  • Congestion or runny nose (for anyone with chronic allergies, a change from baseline)
  • Diarrhea (3 or more loose stools), vomiting, or abdominal pain

This list may not include all possible symptoms. Visit the CDC website for updates as more is learned about COVID-19.

An individual is deemed CONTAGIOUS starting 2 days before their symptom onset through at least 10 days after onset of symptoms. If a case is asymptomatic, the timeframe of contagiousness starts from 2 days prior to date of test, through at least 10 days.

Updated 2/2/2021

PLEASE NOTE: The details on this page are subject to change as directives are provided by governing authorities and/or health officials or as environmental conditions change. Please check back frequently for the latest accurate information.

If you decide to test for COVID, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School recommends a PCR test a minimum of 5 days after exposure to rule out COVID-19 and limit possible community spread. PCR tests are the gold standard for testing as rapid tests are not 100% accurate.

PERSON A
Any PERSON who tests positive for COVID-19 OR has ANY symptoms

WITH SYMPTOMS

  • Follow the isolation guidance issued by the CDC.

RETURN TO SCHOOL when:

  • At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared or a positive COVID result, whichever came first.

AND

  • At least 24 hours have passed fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medication and other symptoms have improved.

OR

  • Documentation of a negative PCR test for COVID-19 or a medical professional's note with an alternative diagnosis has been provided.

AND

  • At least 24 hours have passed fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medication.

WITHOUT SYMPTOMS

Quarantine for 10 days from test date.

  • Monitor for symptoms, taking temperature twice a day.

RETURN TO SCHOOL when:

  • At least 10 days have passed and no symptoms have developed.

PERSON BAny PERSON who lives in the same household with Person A (Close Contact)

QUARANTINE while Person A is sick AND for an ADDITIONAL 14 DAYS after last contact with Person A. Any time a new household member gets sick with COVID-19 you will need to restart your 14-day quarantine.

  • Monitor for symptoms, taking temperature twice a day.
  • Notify School Nurse if any symptoms develop.

RETURN TO SCHOOL 14 days after last contact with Person A if no symptoms have developed.

If symptoms develop, follow guidance for Person A.

OR

  • Negative COVID-19 test for person A has been provided.

PERSON CAny PERSON with close contact* to Person A who tested positive for COVID-19 (Close Contact)

QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS following date of last close contact.

  • Contact School Nurse with any questions.
  • Monitor for symptoms, taking temperature twice a day.
  • Notify Primary Care Provider if symptoms develop.

RETURN TO SCHOOL 14 days after last contact with Person A if no symptoms have developed.

If symptoms develop, follow guidance for Person A.

PERSON D

Any PERSON exposed to Person B or C (Contact of a Contact)

STAY HOME UNTIL: If anyone in your household is experiencing these symptoms, being tested for COVID-19, or waiting for COVID-19 test results, we ask that person D stay home.

Student can return to school when:

  • he or she has an alternative diagnosis from a doctor.
  • he or she receives a negative test result.

We ask that you:

  • Contact School Nurse with questions regarding timing and exposure.
  • Monitor for symptoms.

 

 * The CDC changed the definition of a "close contact" of a COVID-19 case to a person who has been within 6 feet of an infected person for a total of at least 15 minutes in a day. That includes multiple, but brief, encounters, one or two minutes at a time.

The infectious period is defined as the 48 hours prior to symptom onset through the duration of their 10-day minimum isolation. The infectious period of an asymptomatic case is defined as the 48 hours prior to the lab sample being taken through their 10-day minimum isolation. 

  • The risk of exposure by asymptomatic persons can be reduced utilizing layers of mitigation. 
  • Source control: contact tracing and quarantine, daily screening, temperature checks, masking, etc.
  • Ventilation: increased air exchange rates, HEPA filters, increased outside air, UVC lights, etc.
  • Distancing and PPE: unidirectional seating, optimized desk spacing, planned and limited cohort exposure, masks, etc.
  • Hygiene: frequent handwashing, not touching the face, cleaning high touch surfaces and floors routinely, etc.

Only those individuals determined to have had close contact will be required to stay home for the requisite quarantine period. 

If a teacher or student tests positive or has symptoms, contact tracing will be used to determine close contacts among students, faculty, and staff, and they will be notified of the need to quarantine.

Guidelines are subject to change as the situation evolves and we learn more about COVID-19. Updated 2/2/2021

What if?

Nikki Ramos
Lower School Nurse
nramos@staschool.org
214-826-0566, ext. 4336

Renee Pinkston
Upper School Nurse
rpinkston@staschool.org
214-826-0566 X 4420

HEALTH CLINIC HOURS
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
School Days

Medical Forms and Instructions

Doctor’s Notes
Per Diocesan policy, notes from the doctor/dentist office are required to return to school from an appointment.

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