COVID-19 and Schools

• Masks are encouraged, but not required.
• Students should maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet at all times and practice frequent hand hygiene.
• Classrooms should be cleaned and disinfected regularly.

Isolation applies to people who have COVID-19 symptoms, are awaiting testing result, or have tested positive for COVID-19.

They must isolate (this means go home and stay home) until at least 10 days have passed since the first symptom appeared, symptoms have improved AND there has been no fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.

• Student temperatures will not be routinely taken upon entering school.

• Parents are encouraged to take their student’s temperature and monitor for other COVID-19. symptoms each morning before school. If symptoms are present, parents will be instructed to keep the student home until:
  • At least 10 days has passed since the first symptom appeared, symptoms have improved, and there has been no fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication OR
  • Students have a note from a healthcare professional containing another diagnosis OR
  • If there was no known exposure:  students may return if they have a negative COVID-19 test, symptoms have improved, AND there has been no fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication
  • Students who have been fully vaccinated for 2 weeks or longer may return 24 hours after symptoms resolve.

    • If there was a known exposure, they should consult a healthcare professional and be tested.

• The parent will notify the school.
• The school will notify the school nurse or COVID technician, and they will relay the student’s isolation information to parents and notify the Salt Lake County Health Department.

The student will stay home from school until:

• At least 10 days has passed since the first symptom appeared, symptoms have improved, and there has been no fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.
• If a student is asymptomatic, and tests positive for COVID-19, the student will stay home until 10 days have passed since the positive test.

Students who show the following symptoms at school:

• Fever (100.4 or above) or chills
• Diarrhea
• Nausea or vomiting
• New congestion or runny nose
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell
• Muscle or body aches, not explained by exercise
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Cough unrelated to asthma or different than normal

Will be sent directly to the office, where they will be

• Placed in a room designated for students with symptoms, and 
• Parents will be notified to come and pick-up their student, and follow-up with a healthcare provider.

• At least 10 days has passed since the first symptom appeared, symptoms have improved, and there has been no fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication OR

• Students have a note from a healthcare professional containing another diagnosis OR

• If there was no known exposure:  students may return if they have a negative COVID-19 test, symptoms have improved, AND there has been no fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.

• All students returning to school after testing must present a copy of their testing results upon returning.

  • Students who have been fully vaccinated for 2 weeks or longer may return 24 hours after symptoms resolve.

    • ​​​​​​​If there was a known exposure, they should consult a healthcare professional and be tested.

Everyone will practice social distancing and current recommendations for group gathering sizes

• Students who are sent to the office for minor health reasons or for scheduled medications/treatments will use a specified separate room other than students with COVID-19 symptoms.

• The office will document all students sent to the office with symptoms in the District COVID database.

• Exposure to COVID-19 occurs when a person is closer than 6 feet to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 for 15 minutes or longer.

• People who have been exposed to someone, who has tested positive for COVID-19 are asked to quarantine, even if they have no symptoms. Quarantine means the person will stay home, and not attend school, extracurricular activities, religious services, or family gatherings as directed.

• A person who lives with someone who has tested positive must quarantine for 10 days after last known contact with the person who is ill before returning to school. 

• All people awaiting testing results will quarantine. 

• Ten-day quarantine without testing. If the person who was exposed to COVID-19 lives with the person who is positive for COVID-19, the person must quarantine for ten days, beginning from the last date there was contact with the positive person. After the tenth day if there are no symptoms, they may leave quarantine. They should continue to monitor for symptoms until 14 days after the exposure have passed, and resume quarantine and consult a healthcare provider if symptoms occur.   

• Seven-day quarantine with COVID Testing: If the person exposed does not live with the person who tested positive, and they have had no symptoms of COVID-19, they may receive a COVID-19 test 7 days after exposure and return to school if it is negative. They should continue to monitor for symptoms until 14 days after the exposure have passed, and resume quarantine and consult a healthcare provider if symptoms occur.

• Individuals who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 within 90 days of an exposure, do not need to quarantine or be tested, as long as they do not have symptoms.
• Individuals who have been fully vaccinated for 2 weeks or longer do not need to quarantine if they do not have symptoms.
• People who maintained 6-foot distance will not need to quarantine. They will need to self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days.
• If any symptoms occur, they will quarantine and consult a healthcare provider or the health department for testing information. 

• All tests must be a PCR or antigen test, not an antibody test.
• All students returning to school after testing must present a copy of their test results upon returning.

Although masks are not required at school, students, and employees who are exposed to someone with COVID-19 at school may continue to attend school if all of the following apply:

• The school can verify that all exposed individuals were wearing facemasks properly.
• The exposed individuals do not have any symptoms of COVID-19.
  • These individuals should continue to monitor for symptoms until 14 days after the exposure and quarantine and consult a healthcare provider if symptoms occur.
  • If individuals develop symptoms within 14 days after exposure, they should isolate and get tested.

• Coordinate with the Salt Lake County Health Department and our Community Learning Center (CLC) medical clinics to provide resources for students as requested.

• Work with schools to manage COVID-19 cases.

• Provide COVID-19 training to SLCSD employees.

Designated point of contact for schools and/or employee will communicate CONFIDENTIALLY via email with Human Resource Services (HRS) on ALL COVID-19 related situations.

• Emails should be titled “Confidential Communication”
• Contact michelle.hathaway@slcschools.org and kari.gardner@slcschools.org

HRS will coordinate with the local health department to determine isolation, quarantine and return to school or work.

Employee will be notified in writing via school district email regarding quarantine, isolation and return to work dates.

All medical and COVID-19 related health information will be protected and private.

All employees must be cleared to return to work in the schools and buildings by Human Resource Services.

Employees will maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet at all times and practice frequent hand hygiene.

Employees are required to wear masks.

Isolation applies to people who have COVID-19 symptoms, are awaiting testing result, or have tested positive for COVID-19.

All employees must be cleared to return to work in the schools and buildings by Human Resource Services.

DO NOT come to school or work if you were advised to be tested and are awaiting test results, or are newly experiencing any of the symptoms listed below:

• Fever (100.4 or above) or chills
• Diarrhea
• Nausea or vomiting
• New congestion or runny noseSore throat
• New loss of taste or smell
• Muscle or body aches, not explained by exercise
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Cough unrelated to asthma or different than normal

When becoming symptomatic during the day, employees will immediately, confidentially notify Human Resource Services (HRS) and Point of Contact (POC). 

Employee will be sent home and will coordinate protected leave and return to work with HRS. 

The designated point of contact for schools and/or employee will communicate CONFIDENTIALLY via email with HRS.

• Send email titled “Confidential Communication” to michelle.hathaway@slcschools.org and kari.gardner@slcschools.org

Stay home from school or work until:

• A minimum of 10 days has passed since the first symptom appeared, symptoms have improved AND there have been no symptoms for at least 24 hours without the use of medication. 

HRS will work with local health department and employee regarding isolation period.

All employees must be cleared to return to work in the schools and buildings by Human Resource Services.

Before returning to work employee MUST coordinate their return to work with HRS.

Employee provides a negative Covid-19 test result accompanied with being symptom free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication;

OR

At least 10 days has passed since the first symptom appeared, symptoms have improved, and there has been no fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication; 

OR

Employee provides note from a healthcare professional containing another diagnosis unrelated to Covid-19 AND is no longer experiencing symptoms. 

Employees MUST coordinate with HRS regarding quarantine/isolation dates and return to work. 

Isolation applies to people who have COVID-19 symptoms, are awaiting testing result, or have tested positive for COVID-19.

Quarantine applies to people who have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or is experiencing symptoms. Quarantine means the person will stay home, not attend school or work, extracurricular activities, community events, religious services or family gatherings.

​Three options of quarantine:

Ten-day quarantine without testing: If the person who was exposed to COVID-19 does not live with the person who is positive for COVID-19, the person must quarantine for ten days, beginning from the last date there was contact with the positive person. After the tenth day if there are no symptoms, they may leave quarantine.    

Seven-day quarantine with COVID testing: If the person exposed does not live with the person who tested positive, and they have had no symptoms of COVID-19, they may receive a COVID-19 test seven days after exposure, and return to school if it is negative. HRS will advise employee on date they may be tested for COVID-19.

Household exposure quarantine: If the person exposed lives with the person who tested positive you are at a much higher risk of getting infected with the virus. If infected individual is not able to isolate in the home with their own bedroom AND own bathroom, employee will need to quarantine 10 days after infected person is no longer symptomatic, regardless of negative test result. It is imperative employee coordinates with HRS regarding household exposures. 

If the infected person can isolate in the home with their own bedroom AND own bathroom, quarantine will be 10 days from the last date of interaction. Keep in mind, every time you come into close contact with the person who tested positive during their isolation period, your 10-day quarantine starts over.

All employees must be cleared to return to work in the schools and buildings by Human Resource Services.

Employee will report exposure and vaccination dates to HRS regardless of vaccination status.

A person is considered protected from the virus, 2 weeks after they have received their 2nd vaccine.

Face masks must still be worn to prevent the spread of COVID-19 until more people are able to get the vaccine as directed by the State of Utah.

All employees must be cleared to return to work in the schools and buildings by Human Resource Services.