BVUSD COVID PROTECTION PLAN
This plan is updated regularly and re-adopted by BVUSD trustees at least every six months.
BVUSD TESTING FRAMEWORK
BVUSD is adopting CDPH's Testing Framework for K-12 Schools for its programs.
AUGUST 2023
The CDPH is finalizing a School Health Framework Guidance that will address how to prevent the spread of all communicable diseases, including COVID-19, in schools. No new requirements for schools are anticipated. Until that guidance is provided, the 2022-23 guidance remains in effect. Cal/OSHA’s non-emergency guidelines for the workplace, which include exposure notification protocol, remain in effect for school staff.
COVID PROTOCOLS AT-A-GLANCE
(infographic below)
Classroom Exposure:
Test within 3-5 days after last exposure.
Close contacts (defined by sharing an indoor space for a cumulative 15 minutes in a 24 hour period) should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings and when near those at higher risk for severe COVID-19 disease
Classroom teachers will receive an email from our school Nurse with information about the student, the last date of exposure, and the date through which exposed classrooms should mask (Day 10).
Classroom teachers should share the information with any other adults on campus (special education, counselor, specialists, office staff etc.) who may have been with the student while infectious (defined as 2 days prior to onset of symptoms or positive test)
The school community will be notified about any outbreaks, but not necessarily each individual case.
Symptoms & Positive Cases
If symptoms develop, test, and stay home
If test result is positive, follow isolation recommendations
After Day 5, as long as there are no severe symptoms, students/staff may return to school on Day 6 without testing. (The same school rule about a fever applies: students/staff may not return unless fever-free for 24 hours without medicine.)
Between Day 6 - Day 10 a returning student/staff should wear a mask unless they get two negative tests one day apart before Day 10.
Vaccinations & Boosters
Staff & Students are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated or boosted (but no proof is required at this time)
INFOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
MARCH 2023 UPDATES
Effective March 13, 2023, CDPH has shortened the duration for COVID-related isolation, masking, and infectious periods. As we have done consistently, BVUSD will follow the new guidance.
The full update is available here, but a summary of changes is as follows:
CLASSROOM NOTICES
Schools are encouraged to notify families when there is a high case rate across the school site, but no longer when there is a case in a classroom.
ISOLATION - ACTIVE CASE
Isolation may end without a test after a full 5 days as long as the individual is without symptoms and no fever for at least 24 hours. (Previous guidance required a test to end isolation prior to Day 10)
MASKING - ACTIVE CASE
After isolation has ended, 2 negative tests (one day apart) can be used to remove masks prior to Day 10. (Previous guidance required masks through the end of Day 10)
EXPOSURE
All individuals are encouraged to test between Day 3 & Day 5 after an exposure (still defined as a sharing indoor space with an active case for a cumulative 15 minutes in a day with)
Masking is encouraged for 10 days after an exposure.
INFECTIOUS PERIOD
Symptomatic Cases: After Day 5, symptomatic individuals are no longer considered infectious once symptoms have improved at at least 24 hours have passed without fever and fever-reducing medications.
Asymptomatic Cases: Asymptomatic individuals are no longer considered asymptomatic after Day 5. (Previous guidance considered all individuals infections through at least Day 10)
UNCHANGED GUIDANCE
Individuals are still required to isolate and mask while infectious, and the following details remain unchanged:
If a fever is present, isolation should continue until at least 24 hours after the fever resolves without medication.
If symptoms are present, isolation should continue until they have improved and the student feels healthy.
Without 2 negative tests (taken a day apart), masking should continue through Day 10.
Individuals are still considered infections 2 days prior to Day 0. Day 0 is still defined as the onset of symptoms (in symptomatic cases) or the date of the first positive test (in asymptomatic cases).
2022-2023 OVERVIEW & SUMMARY
As we enter our fourth school year with COVID, the safety protocols continue to become less restrictive and school-based services and tracking systems are beginning to fade.
BASELINE PROTOCOLS
The guidance set forth has been established by the state (CDPH, Cal/OSHA) and local experts (SoCo PH) as the “floor,” or the minimum agreements required to participate in our community.
THE "HONOR SYSTEM"
Compliance with the baseline protocols is largely based on an “honor system.” In other words, it is our expectation that all members of our community act with integrity and demonstrate respect for their schools and each other by adhering to community protocols regardless of their individual belief systems.
BALANCING MULTIPLE PRIORITIES
In the first 30 months of this virus, we focused heavily on prioritizing physical health. As we enter year 4, we are recognizing the need to prioritize social-emotional health as well.
In addition to safety protocols and self-care (the primary buzzwords of the past couple years), we need to emphasize efforts to heal and to connect.
MASKING
Per CDPH - 3.13.23
Confirmed cases should isolate for five days, and mask indoors and when around others during a full 10 days following symptom onset (or positive test if no symptoms). However, after ending isolation (no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and symptoms are improving), confirmed cases may remove their mask sooner than Day 10 with two sequential negative tests at least one day apart. If antigen test results are positive, the person may still be infectious, and should continue wearing a mask and wait at least one day before taking another test.
Exposed persons should mask for 10 days following an identified close contact to someone with COVID-19, especially high-risk contacts.
All persons wearing masks should optimize mask fit and filtration, ideally through use of a respirator (N95, KN95, KF94) or surgical mask. See Get the Most out of Masking and Masking Tips for Children (PDF) for more information.
CLASSROOM NOTICES
In the case of a classroom/on-campus exposure:
a notice will be sent to parents via ParentSquare by administration.
Exposed persons should mask for 10 days
Exposed persons should test on between Day 3 & Day 5
DAY 0
Day 0 continues to be defined as either:
the day of symptom onset, or
if no symptoms, the date of a positive test
In the case of an exposure, the last day of exposure (LDE)
The infectious period is still defined as 48 hours prior to Day 0.
DEFINITIONS (ISOLATION, QUARANTINE, EXPOSURE, INFECTIOUS PERIOD)
Per CDPH - 3.13.23
Isolation: Separates those infected with a contagious disease from people who are not infected.
Quarantine: Restricts the movement of susceptible persons who were exposed to a contagious disease in case they become infected.
Confirmed Case, Potential Exposure and Close Contact:
Confirmed Case: A person who has received a positive result of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus as confirmed by a COVID-19 viral test or clinical diagnosis.
Potential exposure: Someone sharing the same indoor airspace, e.g., home, clinic waiting room, airplane etc., for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes) during a confirmed case's infectious period.
Close contact: "Close Contact" means the following:
In indoor spaces of 400,000 or fewer cubic feet per floor (such as homes, clinic waiting rooms, airplanes, etc.), close contact is defined as sharing the same indoor airspace for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes) during a confirmed case's infectious period.
In large indoor spaces greater than 400,000 cubic feet per floor (such as open-floor-plan offices, warehouses, large retail stores, manufacturing, or food processing facilities), close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of the infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period during the confirmed case's infectious period.
Spaces that are separated by floor-to-ceiling walls (e.g., offices, suites, rooms, waiting areas, bathrooms, or break or eating areas that are separated by floor-to-ceiling walls) must be considered distinct indoor airspaces.
Infectious Period:
For symptomatic confirmed cases, 2 days before the confirmed case had any symptoms (symptom onset date is Day 0) through Days 5-10 after symptoms first appeared AND 24 hours have passed with no fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and symptoms have improved, OR
For asymptomatic confirmed cases, 2 days before the positive specimen collection date (collection date is Day 0) through Day 5 after positive specimen collection date for their first positive COVID-19 test.
For the purposes of identifying close contacts and exposures, symptomatic and asymptomatic infected persons who end isolation in accordance with this guidance and are no longer considered to be within their infectious period. Such persons should continue to follow CDPH isolation recommendations, including wearing a well-fitting face mask through Day 10.
ISOLATION & QUARANTINE
Per CDPH - 3.13.23
All persons with COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status or previous infection, should:
Self-isolate and test as soon as possible to determine infection status. Knowing one is infected early during self-isolation enables (a) earlier access to treatment options, if indicated (especially for those who may be at risk for severe illness), and (b) notification of exposed persons (close contacts) who may also benefit by knowing if they are infected.
For symptomatic persons who have tested positive within the previous 31-90 days, using an antigen test is recommended because PCR tests can detect noninfectious viral fragments for up to 90 days.
If symptoms persist, consider continuing self-isolation and retesting with an antigen or PCR test in 1–2 days if testing negative with an antigen test, particularly if tested during the first 1–2 days of symptoms. Consider repeat testing every 1–2 days for several days until testing positive or symptoms improve.
Continue to self-isolate if test result is positive, follow recommended actions below (Table 1), and contact their healthcare provider about available treatments, especially if they are at high risk for serious disease or if they have any questions concerning their care. For more information about available treatments, please see COVID-19 Treatments (ca.gov)
EXIT FROM ISOLATION
Students may return to school after Day 5, as long as symptoms are improving/mild and there has been no fever for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication). A test is no longer required to exit isolation.
While a test is no longer required to exit isolation, two negative tests, taken one day apart, are required in order to remove masks (between days 6-10) in the classroom. If the tests are positive, or the student does not take two tests, then masks are required in the classroom through the end of Day 10.
Per Cal/OSHA requirements, adults in schools must stay masked for a full 10 days, even if they exit isolation earlier.
The primary difference for adults is that masking after an active case is required for 10 days (where as students can remove their masks with two negative tests taken one day apart.
EXPOSURE
Per CDPH - 3.13.23
Exposed Individuals:
Should consider testing as soon as possible to determine infection status and follow all isolation recommendations above if testing positive. Knowing one is infected early enables (a) earlier access to treatment options, if indicated (especially for those who may be at risk for severe illness), and (b) notification of exposed persons (close contacts) who may also benefit by knowing if they are infected. If testing negative before Day 3, retest at least a day later at least once, during the 3–5 day window following exposure.
Persons previously infected in the last 31–90 days should also test, even if asymptomatic and regardless of vaccination status, given the increased transmissibility and increased repeat infections with the circulating Omicron variant, and the higher likelihood that they may be infected.
Exposed persons should mask for 10 days following an identified close contact to someone with COVID-19, especially high-risk contacts.
WORKPLACE SETTINGS
Per CDPH - 3.13.23
In the workplace, employers are subject to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Non-Emergency Regulations or in some workplaces the Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) Standard (PDF) and should consult those regulations for additional applicable requirements. In certain healthcare situations or settings and other covered facilities, services and operations, surgical masks (or higher filtration masks) are required.
Additional information about how CDPH isolation and quarantine guidance affects covered workplaces may be found in COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations FAQs.
The primary difference for adults is that masking after an active case is required for 10 days (where as students can remove their masks with two negative tests taken one day apart.
TESTING
Testing is required in the following circumstances:
AFTER A CONFIRMED CASE: Testing is needed to shorten the duration of masking after illness. Previously, an individual with COVID was required to mask for a full 10 days. As of March 13, 2023, individuals may stop masking after Day 5 as long as they have two negative tests, taken one day apart.
Testing is no longer required:
TO END ISOLATION: Testing is no longer needed to end isolation after Day 5. (Individuals may end isolation after Day 5 as long as symptoms have subsided and there has been no fever for 24 hours).
Testing is recommended:
AFTER EXPOSURE: Testing is recommended between Day 3 and Day 5 after close contact exposure.
AFTER A BREAK OF TRAVEL: Testing is still recommended prior to returning to school after a longer holiday break and after travel.
PLANS & REFERENCE MATERIALS
SCOE’s website includes a site for current COVID-19 information, which is a good resource for school leaders seeking clarification from CDPH and CalOSHA sites
This document is updated and board approved at least every six months.
Most recently, it was approved at the October 12, 2022 meeting.
State guidance that applies recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to the California context. The guidance is reviewed regularly by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Additional guidance, including additional requirements, may be issued by local public health officials, local educational agencies, and/or other authorities.
In workplaces, employers are subject to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) or in some workplaces the Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases Standard, and should consult those regulations for additional applicable requirements.
A repository of key resources and guidance related to Covid-19 and schools with new resources added on a regular basis. Information includes: testing, vaccines, contact tracing, mental health, and current CDPH guidance.
Plans for future phases of COVID-19:
Shots, Masks, Awareness, Readiness, Testing, Education, Rx.
For schools, (pages 20-21) the emphasis remains on vaccination, improved indoor air quality, group tracing approaches, student mental health, testing (with a shift towards OTC testing), and preparation towards moving away from universal masking.
MASKING REMINDERS
DISTRICT OFFICE
(707) 542 • 2201 | www.bvusd.org | 2250 Mesquite Drive • Santa Rosa • Ca
YULUPA OFFICE
(707) 542 • 6272 | lone.svoma@bvusd.org | 2250 Mesquite Drive • Santa Rosa • Ca
STRAWBERRY OFFICE
(707) 526 • 4433 | anne.martinez@bvusd.org | 2311 Horseshoe Drive • Santa Rosa • Ca
ATTENDANCE | (707) 542 • 2395 | attendance@bvusd.org