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COVID-19 Safety Measure Updates.

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Wednesday, 05 January 2022

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With the recently updated guidelines from both the CDC and UDOH, the following adjustments have been made to the school's isolation and quarantine guidelines for staff.

Isolation protocols for staff:

People who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (including no fever for at least 24 hours without medication), follow that by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others to minimize the risk of infecting the people they encounter. The CDC recommends a negative antigen test no earlier than day 5 to return. Isolation is required for all people who test positive for COVID-19 regardless of their vaccination status.

Quarantine protocols for staff:

For people who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than 2 months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted, CDC now recommends quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days. Best practice would also include a test for COVID at day 5 after exposure. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.

No changes have been made to student isolation and quarantine protocols.

At this point and time, we are maintaining a 10 day isolation requirement for all students that test positive. All unvaccinated students will be required to follow the 7 or 10 day quarantine protocols. Student protocols will be evaluated again at month's end.

Our local health department, the Salt Lake County Health Department (SLCoHD), sent this notification on 1/5/22.

1/5/22

Good Morning School Partners,

I know things are happening fast, and you are very busy. Thank you for all you are doing to keep schools safe and keep students learning.

Attached you will find the new school guidance in a clear format. As private schools, you are welcome to choose the *best protection* option or the *shortened* option for your individual school's COVID policy. The most important thing is that COVID positive students are not in school during their infectious period and that students are protected.

Here is something that is new for our private schools with daycares attached: If you have students that are age 0-3, you are required to use the *best protection* option for those students (which is essentially the old guidelines). Also, for ANY student that cannot wear a mask when returning to school (very young children, those with medical issues, etc.), they will need to isolate at home for the full 10 days, as per the previous guidelines.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Thank you for everything you do!

Aileen Whitney
School Liaison
Bureau of infectious diseases

The CDC has indicated it is considering additional changes to isolation and quarantine guidance for the general public and for school settings. If the CDC changes its guidance, the UDOH will also revisit their guidance as will we. Details of school's complete COVID-19 Safety Protocols for 2021-22 can be found in the footer of the school's website - http://mcsslc.com.