COVID Response Guide

Parent COVID Response Protocol

This page was last updated on August 14, 2020 at 11:50 a.m.

Responsibilities of Parents and Legal Guardians

School and parent partnerships are critical to ensuring all students are properly supported, and that staff have the information they need to assist students. Parents and legal guardians must:

Verify that their child’s school has accurate and current information for parent and emergency contacts via myStudent.
Provide complete and accurate medical information to the school on an ongoing basis.
Ensure the child has a face covering/mask and is familiar with instructions for wearing it, putting it on, taking it off safely.
Reinforce proper hand hygiene and cough etiquette with the child.
Reinforce staying 6 feet apart from others.
Arrange for the prompt transportation of a student sent home due to COVID related illness.
Call the school clinic to arrange for prescription medications to be dropped off curbside to the clinic assistant or school nurse.

Review the student screener questions daily with their students to self-screen for symptoms and other risk factors of COVID-19 and to protect the health and safety of employees, staff, and other students. LINK to Student Screener.

The following chart has been developed to assist parents in understanding the health and safety procedures established by Pasco County Schools in collaboration with the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County.

Note:

All students with known exposure, or COVID infection, should be kept home from school.
The days referenced in the guidelines refer to calendar days, not school days.
Duration of isolation and quarantine periods are subject to change based on CDC and Department of Health guidance.

Response Protocols: Student

Student Status	Procedure	Communication	Environment	Isolation or Quarantine	Reentry
No symptoms or known exposure	Continue recommended practices include social distancing, wear a mask, perform frequent handwashing and follow CDC guidelines.	Continue to practice daily self-screener and reinforcement of prevention measures daily	Follow regular daily cleaning schedule.	N/A	N/A
Student has symptoms consistent with COVID 19	The student should stay home from school. If symptoms develop during the school day, the student will be evaluated by the clinic assistant and/or nurse. If COVID-like illness is observed, the student will be provided a surgical mask and escorted to the isolation area. The parent/guardian will be notified immediately of the student’s illness. An immediate pickup will be required.	Parent/Guardian: Will be provided with Student Illness Exclusion Letter. Parent/guardian will be provided information regarding teacher supported remote myLearning instruction to be provided during the potential 10-day isolation period. Staff will contact parent/guardian periodically to check on student’s condition and progress in teacher supported remote myLearning instruction.	The immediate area and high-touch surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected where the student was located.	Student will need to be isolated at home for 10-days and will be required to participate in teacher supported remote myLearning instruction if healthy enough to participate Parent/Guardian must notify school administration if the student is COVID tested and results are positive.	Student can return to school upon receipt of a negative PCR test OR a physician's note explaining alternate diagnosis, OR upon completion of the 10-day isolation period with no ongoing symptoms.
Confirmed positive test regardless of whether symptoms are present	Students waiting for test results must be kept home until the results are available. If the student is at school when the school is notified of the positive test result, the student will be provided a surgical mask and quickly relocated to the isolation area. The parent/guardian will be called for immediate pickup. The school nurse will coordinate with the Department of Health to identify those in close contact with the confirmed case (within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes). This applies regardless of whether the student was wearing a face covering or not.	Parent/Guardian of Positive Student: Will be provided with Student Illness Exclusion Letter. Notify the parent that the Department of Health will be notified of the positive test results. Notify the parent that the Department of Health will contact the parent/guardian daily and school staff will contact the parent/guardian periodically to check on student’s condition. The isolation process will be explained. The student will need to be isolated at home for at least 10 days. Parent/guardian will be provided information regarding teacher supported remote myLearning instruction during the isolation period. Parent/Guardian of Others in School: Individual notifications will be issued to close contacts identified through contact tracing (see below for more information on contact tracing). General campus notification will be issued to all families. The individual with a positive case will not be identified due to HIPAA regulations. The Department of Health will issue individual notifications to close contracts identified through contact tracing (see below for more information on contact tracing).	Identify all areas frequented by the student. Plant manager will follow procedures for cleaning and disinfection related to a positive COVID case.	Positive symptomatic student will need to be isolated at home for at least 10-days from the onset of symptoms if school was previously notified OR isolated at home for the 10-days from date the positive COVID test was administered Positive student will participate in teacher supported remote myLearning instruction if healthy enough to participate.	Student with positive results can reenter at least 10 days from when symptoms started, is fever-free for at least 24 hrs. without the use of fever reducers (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, etc.) and symptoms have improved OR at least 10-days from date the positive COVID test was administered. A negative test will not be accepted for reentry. The Department of Health will communicate with the family and the school to determine the anticipated date of return.
Exposure to a Confirmed COVID case	Elementary If a student tests positive for COVID at the elementary level, the entire cohort/class will need to be quarantined due to the amount of close student contact and the frequency of movement around the classroom. This applies whether the student was wearing a face covering or not. Students must quarantine for 14-days after last exposure. Middle / High If a student tests positive for COVID at the middle/ high level, the school will inform the parents of exposed students that they have been in close contact with the positive case (exposure within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes). This applies regardless of whether the student was wearing a face covering or not. Students must quarantine for up to 14-days.	Parent/Guardian of exposed student: Will be provided with Student Illness Exclusion Letter.. Notify the parent that the Department of Health will be provided the names for contact tracing. The quarantine process will be explained. The student will need to be quarantined at home for 14-days from last contact. Parent/guardian will be provided information regarding teacher supported remote myLearning instruction during quarantine period. The Department of Health will issue individual notifications to close contacts identified through contact tracing. The Department of Health will contact the parent/guardian daily and school staff will contact the parent/guardian periodically to check on student’s condition.	Identify areas that student frequented. Plant manager will follow procedures for cleaning and disinfection for COVID positive.	All identified through contact tracing will quarantine at home for up to 14-days from date of potential exposure. If healthy enough to participate, the students(s) will participate in teacher supported remote myLearning instruction.	Student reenters based on situation – anticipate at least 14-days. The Department of Health will communicate with the family and the school to determine the anticipated date of return. A negative test will not be accepted for reentry.
Student/ parent reports that a household member has tested positive for COVID 19	Student exposed at home should not come to school. The student should quarantine for 14-days from the last close contact with the household member. Confirm the report with parent/guardian and ask for the student to be picked up. Advise parent that student(s) in the household must quarantine for 14-days after last contact. If unable to avoid close contact with the positive household member, the student(s) will need to quarantine an additional 14-days after the household member is removed from isolation.	Parent/Guardian: Will be provided with Student Illness Exclusion Letter. Notify the parent that the Health Department will be notified of positive test results. The Department of Health will contact the parent/guardian daily and school staff will contact the parent/guardian periodically to check on student’s condition. Reinforce need for additional quarantine time if other household members are positive. Consult with Health Department as needed. Parent/guardian will be provided information regarding teacher supported remote myLearning instruction during the 14-day quarantine period.	Follow regular daily cleaning schedule	The Department of Health will notify the parent/guardian and school of the quarantine period. Student will need to be quarantined at home for 14-days. If healthy enough to participate, the students(s) will participate in teacher supported remote myLearning instruction. Additional information and visuals regarding quarantine can be found on the CDC website.	If the student remains symptom free and have not had contact with another positive case, student can reenter 14-days after last contact with positive case. The Department of Health will communicate with the family and school to determine the anticipated date of return.

Student Status:

(Click on a topic to expand.)

No symptoms or known exposure

Procedure

Continue recommended practices include social distancing, wear a mask, perform frequent handwashing and follow CDC guidelines.

Communication

Continue to practice daily self-screener and reinforcement of prevention measures daily

Environment

Follow regular daily cleaning schedule.

Isolation or Quarantine

N/A

Reentry

N/A

Student has symptoms consistent with COVID 19

Procedure

The student should stay home from school.
If symptoms develop during the school day, the student will be evaluated by the clinic assistant and/or nurse.
If COVID-like illness is observed, the student will be provided a surgical mask and escorted to the isolation area.
The parent/guardian will be notified immediately of the student’s illness. An immediate pickup will be required.
If the child has a school aged sibling, the sibling may also be required to be isolated for 10-days or quarantine for 14-days as well.

Communication

Parent/Guardian:

Will be provided with Student Illness Exclusion Letter.
Parent/guardian will be provided information regarding teacher supported remote myLearning instruction to be provided during the potential 10-day isolation period.
Staff will contact parent/guardian periodically to check on student’s condition and progress in teacher supported remote myLearning instruction.

Environment

The immediate area and high-touch surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected where the student was located.

Isolation or Quarantine

Student will need to be isolated at home for 10-days and will be required to participate in teacher supported remote myLearning instruction if healthy enough to participate
Parent/Guardian must notify school administration if the student is COVID tested and results are positive.

Reentry

Student can return to school upon receipt of a negative PCR test OR a physician's note explaining alternate diagnosis, OR upon completion of the 10-day isolation period with no ongoing symptoms.

Confirmed positive test regardless of whether symptoms are present

Procedure

Students waiting for test results must be kept home until the results are available.
If the student is at school when the school is notified of the positive test result, the student will be provided a surgical mask and quickly relocated to the isolation area.
The parent/guardian will be called for immediate pickup.
The school nurse will coordinate with the Department of Health to identify those in close contact with the confirmed case (within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes). This applies regardless of whether the student was wearing a face covering or not.

Communication

Parent/Guardian of Positive Student:

Will be provided with Student Illness Exclusion Letter.
Notify the parent that the Department of Health will be notified of the positive test results.
Notify the parent that the Department of Health will contact the parent/guardian daily and school staff will contact the parent/guardian periodically to check on student’s condition.
The isolation process will be explained. The student will need to be isolated at home for at least 10 days.
Parent/guardian will be provided information regarding teacher supported remote myLearning instruction during the isolation period.

Parent/Guardian of Others in School:

Individual notifications will be issued to close contacts identified through contact tracing (see below for more information on contact tracing).
General campus notification will be issued to all families. The individual with a positive case will not be identified due to HIPAA regulations.
The Department of Health will issue individual notifications to close contracts identified through contact tracing (see below for more information on contact tracing).

Environment

Identify all areas frequented by the student.
Plant manager will follow procedures for cleaning and disinfection related to a positive COVID case.

Isolation or Quarantine

Positive symptomatic student will need to be isolated at home for at least 10-days from the onset of symptoms if school was previously notified OR isolated at home for the 10-days from date the positive COVID test was administered
Positive student will participate in teacher supported remote myLearning instruction if healthy enough to participate.

Reentry

Student with positive results can reenter at least 10 days from when symptoms started, is fever-free for at least 24 hrs. without the use of fever reducers (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, etc.) and symptoms have improved OR at least 10-days from date the positive COVID test was administered. A negative test will not be accepted for reentry.
The Department of Health will communicate with the family and the school to determine the anticipated date of return.

Exposure to a Confirmed COVID case

Procedure

Elementary

If a student tests positive for COVID at the elementary level, the entire cohort/class will need to be quarantined due to the amount of close student contact and the frequency of movement around the classroom. This applies whether the student was wearing a face covering or not. Students must quarantine for 14-days after last exposure.

Middle / High

If a student tests positive for COVID at the middle/ high level, the school will inform the parents of exposed students that they have been in close contact with the positive case (exposure within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes). This applies regardless of whether the student was wearing a face covering or not. Students must quarantine for up to 14-days.

Communication

Parent/Guardian of exposed student:

Will be provided with Student Illness Exclusion Letter..
Notify the parent that the Department of Health will be provided the names for contact tracing.
The quarantine process will be explained. The student will need to be quarantined at home for 14-days from last contact.
Parent/guardian will be provided information regarding teacher supported remote myLearning instruction during quarantine period.
The Department of Health will issue individual notifications to close contacts identified through contact tracing.
The Department of Health will contact the parent/guardian daily and school staff will contact the parent/guardian periodically to check on student’s condition.

Environment

Identify areas that student frequented.
Plant manager will follow procedures for cleaning and disinfection for COVID positive.

Isolation or Quarantine

All identified through contact tracing will quarantine at home for up to 14-days from date of potential exposure.
If healthy enough to participate, the students(s) will participate in teacher supported remote myLearning instruction.

Reentry

Student reenters based on situation – anticipate at least 14-days.
The Department of Health will communicate with the family and the school to determine the anticipated date of return.
A negative test will not be accepted for reentry.

Student/parent reports that a household member has tested positive for COVID 19

Procedure

Student exposed at home should not come to school. The student should quarantine for 14-days from the last close contact with the household member.
Confirm the report with parent/guardian and ask for the student to be picked up.
Advise parent that student(s) in the household must quarantine for 14-days after last contact.
If unable to avoid close contact with the positive household member, the student(s) will need to quarantine an additional 14-days after the household member is removed from isolation.

Communication

Parent/Guardian:

Will be provided with Student Illness Exclusion Letter.
Notify the parent that the Health Department will be notified of positive test results.
The Department of Health will contact the parent/guardian daily and school staff will contact the parent/guardian periodically to check on student’s condition.
Reinforce need for additional quarantine time if other household members are positive. Consult with Health Department as needed.
Parent/guardian will be provided information regarding teacher supported remote myLearning instruction during the 14-day quarantine period.

Environment

Follow regular daily cleaning schedule

Isolation or Quarantine

The Department of Health will notify the parent/guardian and school of the quarantine period.
Student will need to be quarantined at home for 14-days. If healthy enough to participate, the students(s) will participate in teacher supported remote myLearning instruction.
Additional information and visuals regarding quarantine can be found on the CDC website.

Reentry

If the student remains symptom free and have not had contact with another positive case, student can reenter 14-days after last contact with positive case.
The Department of Health will communicate with the family and school to determine the anticipated date of return.