SCPS IMPACT
September 13, 2021 Edition
Message from the Superintendent
Dear Parents/Guardians and Staff,
As per the CDC guidance, SCPS collaborated with the Rappahannock Area Health Department to adjust our contract tracing process in order to expedite the return to in-person learning for students and staff. Below highlights the changes that we are making regarding protocols for quarantine of a close contact:
INDIVIDUALS ON A LINE LIST (IDENTIFIED AS A CLOSE CONTACT)
If fully vaccinated (verified documentation) AND asymptomatic: exempt from quarantine and may attend school.
It is recommended vaccinated asymptomatic close contacts test between 3 to 5 days from their last exposure
If unvaccinated AND asymptomatic, AND have verified documentation of being diagnosed with Covid-19 in the past 90 days: exempt from quarantine and may attend school.
Quarantine options:
Quarantine can end after Day 7 if a PCR or antigen test is negative (with documented proof) AND person has remained asymptomatic
The PCR or antigen test may be taken on or after Day 5 from the last exposure, but quarantine cannot be discontinued earlier than after Day 7.
Individual may return to school on Day 8 with this option.
Quarantine can end after Day 10 without testing if person has remained asymptomatic
Individual may return to school on Day 11 with this option.
Persons can discontinue quarantine at these time points only if the following criteria are also met:
No clinical evidence of COVID-19 has been elicited by daily symptom monitoring during the entirety of quarantine up to the time at which quarantine is discontinued; and,
Daily symptom monitoring continues through quarantine Day 14; and
adhere strictly through quarantine Day 14 to all recommended mitigation strategies of correct and consistent mask use, social distancing, hand and cough hygiene, avoiding crowds, and self-monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19 illness.
If any symptoms develop, the individual should immediately self-isolate, contact their healthcare provider to report this change in clinical status and notify the school.
NOTE: In the case in which a person receives a positive rapid test result, but then produces a negative PCR test which has been collected within 48 hours of the rapid test, the PCR test result would supersede the rapid test result. In this situation the index person and close contacts would be released from isolation and quarantine respectively provided they have remained asymptomatic.
It is important to note, in the context of an outbreak or in-school transmission, VDH may recommend more stringent public health mitigation measures.
This updated contract tracing quarantine process begins today, for students and staff identified as close contacts. Schools will contact individuals who are currently in quarantine if they are eligible to return to school tomorrow based on the new protocol.
We all share the goal of ensuring our students are in-person as much as possible, while also keeping our schools safe and healthy for everyone - staff, students, and visitors. It is still important that we follow as many mitigation measures as possible as part of that strategy. More information about the mitigation measures are available online at www.spotsylvania.k12.va.us/reengage.
The SCPS COVID-19 contract tracing protocol updates will be shared with the School Board as part of the ReEngage presentation at tonight’s School Board meeting. If you need additional information, please contact your child’s school.
Sincerely,
Scott Baker
Superintendent of Schools
Spotsylvania County Public Schools
Email: webmaster@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
Website: www.spotsylvania.k12.va.us
Location: 8020 River Stone Drive, Fredericksburg, VA 22407
Phone: 540-834-2500
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SpotsylvaniaCountyPublicSchools/
Twitter: @SpotsySchools