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Message to Families - December 4, 2020

New Health Department Guidance Regarding Quarantines Reflect Latest CDC Recommendations: Shorter Quarantine Time = Less Days Away From School

December 04, 2020

Three Rivers Public Health Department (3RPHD) is following the new quarantine recommendations from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The new recommendations shorten the window for quarantine.  As a district, with assistance from 3RPHD, we will begin implementing these new recommendations as soon as possible. 

Effective December 3, 2020 at 5:00pm, quarantine can end after seven (7) days since a COVID-19 close contact only if all of the following conditions have been met:

• The person seeks a COVID-19 test on day five (5) following their exposure to another person testing positive and their test is negative.

• The person is not experiencing symptoms.

• The person continues to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and wears a mask through day 14.

For those who’ve had a close contact exposure to COVID-19 but don’t take a test, quarantine can end when all of the following conditions have been met:

• At least 10 days have passed since close contact exposure.

• No COVID-19 symptoms have developed.

• The person continues to self-monitor for symptoms and wears a facial covering through day 14.

Anyone testing positive for COVID-19 must isolate for at least 10 days from the date of their test. Isolation can end when the following conditions have been met:

• The person is fever-free without the use of fever reducing medicine for 24 hours.

• Any COVID-19 symptoms are improving, though some symptoms may linger  

The following symptom screening criteria for ill students and staff is based on the most current research. Because people with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness, the following criteria have been developed to assist schools in identifying presumptive positive COVID-19 cases.

Isolation is required for students with two or more of the following: a fever of 100.0 or above, chills, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea or fatigue OR one of the following symptoms: a sudden onset of a cough, sudden onset of shortness of breath or sudden loss of taste or smell. Isolation will be required for 10 days unless the student has a negative Covid test or a doctor establishes an alternative diagnosis, presents a doctor’s note to confirm the presence of an alternative diagnosis that explains the symptoms, and meets the schools requirements for readmission.

The new criteria for exclusion and re-admittance of ill students to school is similar to the criteria we were following at the beginning of the school year.  AGPS continues to have students reporting to school who are not feeling well and demonstrating possible COVID-19 symptoms.  It is extremely important that you screen your child at home and keep them home if they are sick or experiencing any symptoms.

For questions or more information about COVID-19, please call Three Rivers at 402-727-5396, email info@3rphd.org or visit www.threeriverspublichealth.org

http://dhhs.ne.gov/Documents/COVID-19-Outline-of-Changes-to-Directed-Health-Measures.pdf

http://dhhs.ne.gov/Documents/COVID-19-Options-to-Discontinue-Quarantine-FAQs.pdf

Thank you for your continued efforts to help us keep students and staff in school!

Sincerely,

Jason Libal