Eagle Nation News
Weekly COVID-19 Update: November 6, 2020
Information for Families
Eagle Nation,
As shared in our last communication, it is our goal to send regular updates regarding how COVID-19 is impacting the Bethalto School District. We value transparency and want to share with our community this information as we work together to keep our schools open for students while putting the safety of our community at the forefront.
We will be reporting out data in three areas: quarantined students/staff, close contacts, and positive students/staff.
QUARANTINED INFORMATION
For the Bethalto School District, our quarantine numbers equate to the total number of students/staff that are not in attendance at our schools because they can’t report due to having one of the symptoms related to COVID-19, they are awaiting the results of a test, or they are home because they are a close contact and/or positive. We appreciate our families who are self-certifying each day and are following the guidelines the IDPH has given us. Many of our families are able to secure doctor’s notes for a quick return to school for their students and/or obtain a negative COVID test result for return to school. We realize this is an additional burden on our families, but we appreciate that we are all taking these additional actions out of an abundance of caution which allows us to keep our schools open and our students and staff safe.
CLOSE CONTACT INFORMATION
We will then separate out the number of students/staff who are not at school because they were close contacts in the school setting to a positive or probable case. A close contact is someone who was within 6 feet of a positive or probable COVID-19 person for more than 15 minutes. We will only be sharing out close contacts as they relate to the school setting. For example, students who are quarantined at home because a parent tested positive would not show up on our close contact numbers, but students who are sent home to quarantine because they were in close contact with a student in their class who tested positive for COVID-19 would be counted in our numbers being shared.
POSITIVITY INFORMATION
Last, we will share the total number of positive students in each building. These students have tested positive and it has been confirmed with the parent and the health department.
STAFF INFORMATION
We will also share information as it relates to our staff across the district in each of these three areas.
UPDATED DECISION TREE-----INCLUDING INFORMATION ON DR'S NOTES & SELF-CERTIFICATION
Below you will see an updated Decision Tree as it relates to COVID-19.
One-piece we would like to stress is that Column C now states that the doctor's note must include an alternative diagnosis if there is no negative COVID test. You will want to ensure you are telling your doctor this information so that the note has an alternative diagnosis or we will not accept the note and your child will not be able to return to school.
We also want to remind you that you need to SELF-CERTIFY YOUR CHILD EACH DAY. WE HAVE SEVERAL FAMILIES THAT ARE NOT DOING THIS CURRENTLY. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO DO THIS EACH MORNING.
TESTING OPTIONS-FREE
Bethalto School District
Email: return@bethalto.org
Website: https://www.bethalto.org
Location: 101 School Street, Bethalto, IL, USA
Phone: (618) 377 7200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BethaltoSchools
Twitter: @BethaltoSchools