Suspected/Confirmed Cases

1. The student or staff member must remain at home (except to get medical care), monitor their symptoms, notify the school, notify personal close contacts, assist the school in contact tracing efforts, and answer the call from Westchester County Department of Health. For most people who have relatively mild illness, they will need to stay in self-isolation for at least 10 days and until at least 3 days have passed with no fever and improvement in other symptoms.

2. The student’s parent/caregiver or the staff member informs the proper school official (e.g.  the school nurse or the administrator identified as the COVID-19 safety coordinator) that the individual has tested positive for COVID-19. The designated COVID-19 school coordinator in turn notifies others as pre-determined by the school (e.g., school leadership, school nurse and/or school medical director).

3. Determine whether the student or staff member was on the premises during the time frame that started two days prior to symptom onset (or testing positive if not symptomatic) until the time of isolation.

1. If so, promptly close off areas visited by the COVID-19 positive individual until such areas can be cleaned and disinfected, if they have not been cleaned and disinfected already.
2. Promptly clean and disinfect the student’s or staff member’s classroom and any other facilities (e.g., extracurricular facilities) visited by the individual, if that has not been done already.
3. Promptly clean and disinfect the bus(es) the student or staff member was on, if any, and if not already done.

4. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (e.g., student has self-contained classroom throughout the day):

1. As soon as practicable, send a communication to the other families in the student’s class (e.g., cohort) that there has been a positive test without naming the individual student or staff member who tested positive.
2. Communications sent to families/staff should:

1. 1. Inform them there was a positive test (not the specific individual) in the self-contained classroom.
   2. Explain that since they were within this cohort and may have been within 6 feet of the person with a positive test, they are considered a “close contact” and therefore should be tested. (In cases where the student may have been in close contact with others outside their cohort, having assigned seating and keeping up-to-date seating charts will help identify who should be instructed to be tested: specifically, those who were sitting next to the student, plus any others who also had close contact with the student.)
   3. Instruct those designated as close contacts to isolate prior to their test and while waiting for the results.
   4. Explain that if close contacts choose not to be tested, the student or staff member should remain home in self-quarantine for 14 days.[1]
   5. Remind families and/or staff of the importance of not having contact with higher-risk individuals (e.g., grandparents and those with underlying medical conditions).
   6. Remind families and/or staff of the list of COVID-19 symptoms for which to monitor.

c. If the school finds out about the original COVID-19 positive test in the middle of a school day when the rest of the cohort is in class:

1. 1. Make sure these students are wearing masks. Extra masks as may be needed should be provided by the school. Enforce strict physical distancing. Require students to wash their hands.
   2. The school should quickly identify the individuals who may be “close contacts” of the student and notify students and their families.
   3. Caregivers of students in the class or other close contacts may pick students up prior to the end of the day. Caregivers must wear a mask/face covering when picking up their student. Students who are close contacts and students with any symptoms should not ride the school bus to get home. Caregivers and students, as well as staff, should wash their hands upon arriving at home and change their clothes as a precaution. 
   4. Close contacts should not come back to school until they have received the results of testing (or elected to instead quarantine for 14 days[2]) and are asked to communicate their test results to the school.

d. As feasible, to assist with contact tracing, make a list including phone number and email of any other close contacts the student or staff member had, beginning two days before the onset of symptoms (or positive test if asymptomatic) until individual was isolated. Instruct those students and/or staff members to get tested according to the same protocol as the student’s cohort above.

5. MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL (e.g., no single self-contained classroom):

1. The school should identify the student’s or staff member’s possible “close contacts” based on the assigned seating charts. The lookback period should begin two days before symptoms appeared (or two days prior to the date of the positive test if there were no symptoms) and include up until the time the student was isolated. Consider students and staff members who were within 6 feet of the individual for 10-15 minutes in class, on the school bus, or at extracurricular activities.
2. Follow the communication and other relevant Elementary School protocols above.
3. Close contacts should be tested for COVID-19.  Sites may require pre-screening, a referral, and/or an appointment.
4. Instruct the student or staff member to isolate while waiting for the results of their test.
5. An individual who does not wish to be tested should instead quarantine for 14 days[3] and until asymptomatic.

6. IF OTHERS IN THE SCHOOL TEST POSITIVE: Perform all steps under this protocol for that person. 
7. IF NO OTHERS IN THE SCHOOL TEST POSITIVE: Close contacts can return to school immediately if they test negative and do not have symptoms; however, strict mask wearing covering the nose and mouth must be maintained at all times. If they have symptoms but test negative regardless, they should wait 10 days from day of original exposure before returning to school.

Any area of the school visited by the COVID-19 positive individual must be closed off and/or cleaned and disinfected.

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[1] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html  

[2] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html  

[3] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html  

1. Family should monitor students at home each morning for the most common symptoms of COVID-19 (see list on health screener).

a. IF NO SYMPTOMS:

1. 1. Send student to school.

b.IF ANY SYMPTOM:

1. 1. Do not send the student to school.
   2. Call the school’s nurse and/or COVID-19 safety coordinator and inform them student is staying home due to symptoms.
   3. Families should contact their health care provider for assessment and testing. An individual who does not wish to be tested should instead isolate for 14 days[4] and until asymptomatic.
   4. Isolate at home until test results are returned.
   5. Proceed as follows according to test results:
      1. IF NEGATIVE: Student stays home until asymptomatic for 24 hours.
      2. IF POSITIVE: Student should remain at home (except to get medical care), monitor their symptoms, notify the school, notify personal close contacts, assist the school in contact tracing efforts, and answer the call from the Westchester County Department of Health. Most people who have relatively mild illness will need to stay in self-isolation for at least 10 days and until at least 3 days have passed with no fever and improvement in other symptoms. FOLLOW STEPS UNDER: “Protocol: Student / staff tests positive for COVID-19.”

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[4] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html     

1. Although families are the most important first line of defense for monitoring symptoms, bus drivers and bus monitors also play an important role in flagging possible symptomatic students.
2. If symptoms are noticed as the student is getting on the bus and if there is a caregiver present, do not allow student to board the bus. Caregiver should then FOLLOW: “Protocol: Student is symptomatic at home.”
3. If student is already on the bus, ensure student is masked and keeps mask on. Ensure other students keep their masks on. Ensure student keeps required physical distance from other students.
4. Bus driver/monitor should call ahead to the bus service dispatch. The bus service dispatch will be equipped with appropriate cell phone numbers for school and district personnel (nurse or other medical personnel). The dispatch should contact the school to inform the school nurse (or school medical point of contact) of a possible symptomatic child.
5. School nurse (or designee) will meet the bus as it arrives, wearing PPE (mask, face shield, and gown). As practical, student with possible symptoms should exit the bus first.
6. Bus should be cleaned / disinfected.
7. Nurse (or school medical point of contact) should evaluate the student for symptoms (see list above: “Most common symptoms of COVID-19”).
   1. IF ANY SYMPTOM:
   1. Place the student in the designated isolation room. There is no specific capacity limit for the medical waiting room, but all students in the medical waiting room must be as far apart as possible, and no less than 6 feet. Strict mask wearing covering the nose and mouth at all times for every person in the room must be enforced. Students can work on individual schoolwork or other activities while in the medical waiting room.
   2. Contact caregiver for pick-up

1. IF CAREGIVER CAN PICK UP DURING THE DAY: Student waits to be picked up in the medical waiting room. Caregiver should make every effort to pick-up with 15 – 30 minutes. Caregivers must wear a mask/face covering when picking up their student. Students should not ride the school bus to get home. Caregivers and students should wash their hands upon arriving at home and change their clothes, as a precaution.

2. IF CAREGIVER CANNOT PICK UP DURING THE DAY: If caregiver cannot pick-up within 15-30 minutes of being contacted, school will consider calling 911 if clinical symptoms warrant. If symptoms consistent with MIS-C variant are present, 911 call is made immediately, while notifying family. Student will be monitored by nurse until the student is able to leave the school.

iii. Families should contact their health care provider for assessment and testing. An individual who does not wish to be tested should instead isolate for 14 days[5] and until asymptomatic.

iv.If tested, isolate at home until test results are returned.

v. Proceed as follows according to test results:

1. 1. IF NEGATIVE: If the student does not have COVID-19, the student may return to school based upon guidance from their clinician and necessary management of another diagnosis. Student stays home until asymptomatic for 24 hours.
   2. IF POSITIVE: Student should remain at home (except to get medical care), monitor their symptoms, notify the school, notify personal close contacts, assist the school in contact tracing efforts, and answer the call from the Westchester County Department of Health. Most people who have relatively mild illness will need to stay in self-isolation for at least 10 days and until at least 3 days have passed with no fever and improvement in other symptoms. FOLLOW STEPS UNDER: “Protocol: Student/staff tests positive for COVID-19.”

b. IF NO SYMPTOMS:

i. If the evaluation shows the student does not have symptoms, send the student to class.

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[5] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html  

1. Although families are the most important first line of defense for monitoring symptoms, school staff will play an important role in referring possible symptomatic students to the school nurse or other medical point of contact.
2. Staff ensures the student is wearing a mask that fully covers nose and mouth at all times.
3. Staff member calls the nurse or appropriate administrator to inform them that they have a possible case. Nurse or designee comes to get the student from class.
4. Nurse should evaluate the student for symptoms.

a. IF ANY SYMPTOM:

1. 1. 1. Place the student in the designated isolation room. There is no specific capacity limit for the medical waiting room, but all students in the COVID-19 waiting room must be as far apart as possible, and no less than 6 feet. Strict mask wearing covering the nose and mouth at all times for every person in the room must be enforced. Students can work on individual schoolwork or other activities while in the medical waiting room
      2. Contact caregiver for pick-up.

1. IF CAREGIVER CAN PICK UP DURING THE DAY: Student waits to be picked up in the isolation room. Caregivers must wear a mask/face covering when picking up their student. Students should not ride the school bus to get home. Caregivers and students should wash their hands upon arriving at home and change their clothes as a precaution.

2. IF CAREGIVER CANNOT PICK UP DURING THE DAY: If caregiver cannot pick-up within 15-30 minutes of being contacted, school will consider calling 911 if clinical symptoms warrant. If symptoms consistent with MIS-C variant are present, 911 call is made immediately, while notifying family. Student will be monitored by nurse until the student is able to leave the school.

iii. Families should contact their health care provider for assessment and testing. An individual who does not wish to be tested should instead isolate for 14 days[6] and until asymptomatic.

iv. If tested, isolate at home until test results are returned.

v. Proceed as follows according to test results:

1. IF NEGATIVE: If the student does not have COVID-19, the student may return to school based upon guidance from their clinician and necessary management of another diagnosis. Student stays home until asymptomatic for 24 hours.

2. IF POSITIVE: Student remain at home (except to get medical care), monitor their symptoms, notify the school, notify personal close contacts, assist the school in contact tracing efforts, and answer the call from the Westchester County Department of Health. Most people who have relatively mild illness will need to stay in self-isolation for at least 10 days and until at least 3 days have passed with no fever and improvement in other symptoms. FOLLOW STEPS UNDER: “Protocol: Student or staff tests positive for COVID-19.”

b. IF NO SYMPTOMS:

1. 1. 1.  If the evaluation shows the student does not have symptoms, send the student back to class.

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[6] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html  

1. Staff should monitor themselves at home each morning for the most common symptoms of COVID-19. The required daily health screener will them of symptoms.

1. 1. IF NO SYMPTOMS:

1. 1. 1. Come to work.

b. IF ANY SYMPTOM:

1. 1. 1. Do not come to work.
      2. Contact the school’s designated point of contact and/or other absence reporting mechanism established by the school.
      3. Contact their health care provider for assessment and testing. An individual who does not wish to be tested should instead isolate for 14 days[7] and until asymptomatic.
      4. If tested, isolate at home until test results are returned.
      5. Proceed as follows according to test results:

1. IF NEGATIVE: If the staff member does not have COVID-19, they may return to school based upon guidance from their clinician and necessary management of another diagnosis. Staff member stays home until asymptomatic for 24 hours.

2. IF POSITIVE: Staff member should remain at home (except to get medical care), monitor their symptoms, notify the school, notify personal close contacts, assist the school in contact tracing efforts, and answer the call from the Westchester County Department of Health. Most people who have relatively mild illness will need to stay in self-isolation for at least 10 days and until at least 3 days have passed with no fever and improvement in other symptoms. FOLLOW STEPS UNDER: “Protocol: Student/staff tests positive for COVID-19”.

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[7] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html  

1. As noted above, staff should be encouraged not to come to school if they are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19.
2. If a staff member suspects any symptoms during the day, they should follow the school’s protocols for getting another adult to cover their class mid-day, if needed, and see the school nurse to be evaluated for symptoms.

1. 1. IF NO SYMPTOMS: The staff member should follow the school’s standard protocols for being excused due to illness.
   2. IF ANY SYMPTOM:

1. 1. 1. Contact their health care provider for assessment and testing. An individual who does not wish to be tested should instead isolate for 14 days[8] and until asymptomatic.
      2. If tested, isolate at home until test results are returned.
      3. Proceed as follows according to test results:

1. IF NEGATIVE: Staff member stays home until asymptomatic for 24 hours.

2. IF POSITIVE: Staff member should remain at home (except to get medical care), monitor their symptoms, notify the school, notify personal close contacts, assist the school in contact tracing efforts, and answer the call from the Westchester County Department of Health. Most people who have relatively mild illness will need to stay in self-isolation for at least 10 days and until at least 3 days have passed with no fever and improvement in other symptoms. FOLLOW STEPS UNDER: “Protocol: Student/staff tests positive for COVID-19”.

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[8] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html