Southeast Allegheny News

Wilkins Elementary School issued the following announcement on Jan. 30.

Dear Woodland Hills School District families and staff,

As we make our return to in-person learning, the Woodland Hills School District COVID Response Unit wanted to clarify our policies and procedures in the event of an exposure to COVID-19 or a confirmed positive test.

Although it appears that we have weathered yet another surge in COVID-19 cases, entering a third year of pandemic living affirms that this virus is here to stay. In our effort to continue to create an optimally safe and healthy campus community - and understanding that COVID-19 management and mitigation strategies are moving targets - the COVID Response Unit has developed the following post-infection and post-exposure guidelines. 

These guidelines represent the current evidence-based best practices from the CDC.

FACULTY/STAFF GUIDANCE— CONFIRMED COVID POSITIVE 

• Remain at home and in isolation/quarantine for five days
• Test on Day 5, if possible, AS LONG AS you are asymptomatic and fever free
• If you still have symptoms and/or fever, there is no need to test, you must complete an isolation/quarantine interval of 10 days.
• If your ‘Day 5’ test is negative, you may end your isolation/quarantine, but you should continue to monitor your symptoms and wear a mask when outside of your home (this includes while participating in strenuous physical activity)
• If your ‘Day 5’ test is positive, you must complete five additional days of isolation/quarantine, for a total isolation/quarantine interval of 10 days, after which you can end your isolation/quarantine without any additional testing

STUDENT GUIDANCE— CONFIRMED COVID POSITIVE 

Students who test positive are to remain at home and isolate/quarantine for 10 days, after which the student may return to on-campus, in-person learning provided that they can attest to improved symptoms and being fever-free.

We realize that the guidance for students following a confirmed positive COVID test result differs from the guidance for faculty and staff with respect to the duration of isolation/quarantine. Additionally, we recognize that the guidance for faculty and staff is in alignment with the most recent CDC guidelines published during the first week of January 2022, however we have opted to maintain a longer period of isolation/quarantine following confirmed infection for our scholars. 

STAFF AND STUDENT GUIDANCE— POST-EXPOSURE

The CDC continues to define an “exposure event” as an event during which an individual, regardless of vaccination and/or masking status, had 15-minutes or more contact (cumulative within a 24-hour period) or within the physical distancing radius of 6-feet or less with a confirmed COVID-19 positive individual.

IF FULLY VACCINATED AND PROPERLY BOOSTED – ASYMPTOMATIC

• Isolation/quarantine is not required, However, even if fully vaccinated/properly boosted, you must wear a mask around others for 10 days— this includes for sports participation
• Obtain a point-of-care (rapid antigen test) on Day 5 
• If unable to test on Day 5, continue to wear a mask for a total of 10 days and monitor symptoms
• If the “Day 5 test“ is negative, you may remain out of isolation/quarantine, but should continue to wear a mask for a total of 10 days—if you develop symptoms, isolate/quarantine and get a test
• If the “Day 5 test “is positive, then you should begin a period of isolation/quarantine and follow the appropriate guidelines above (for faculty/staff or students) now that you are a confirmed positive case.

IF UNVACCINATED or VACCINATED BUT NOT PROPERLY BOOSTED - ASYMPTOMATIC

• You must remain at home in isolation/quarantine for 5 days
• You should obtain a point-of-care test on Day 5 if possible
• If unable to test on Day 5, you will be required to remain off-campus for a total of 10 days and monitor symptoms
• If the “Day 5 test” is negative, you may remain out of isolation/quarantine, but should continue to wear a mask for a total of 10 days— if at any point you develop symptoms, you must return to isolation and get tested (again).
• If the “Day 5 test” is positive, then you should begin a period of isolation/quarantine and follow the appropriate guidelines above (for faculty/staff or students) now that you are a confirmed positive case.

Though current Pennsylvania health and safety recommendations give student athletes the discretion (with parental permission) to train and compete with or without a mask, students, faculty and staff who have been exposed - regardless of vaccination status and test results - must remain masked for a period of 10 days during both practices and competitive events.

Please remember that face masks are required to be worn in all Woodland Hills School District buildings. Proper face mask usage means covering both the nose and mouth. We will continue to provide updates as warranted. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to navigate the pandemic. 

Sincerely, 

The Woodland Hills School District COVID Response Unit

Original source can be found here.