Our Covid Plan
Jean Lyle 2022-23 Covid Policy At a Glance
For the 2022-23 School Year, masking will remain optional indoors, as long as case rates in Ramsey County remain “low” or “medium.” If case rates raise to “high” levels, we may again require masking in the building. Additionally, our policy is subject to change if we have a severe outbreak, or if for other reasons we feel it necessary to make our policy more stringent to keep our community safe.
In August 2022, the CDC came out with their newest guidance. This new guidance states that those who test positive for Covid-19 must continue to isolate, but those who have a known exposure to Covid-19 no longer need to quarantine. However, this new guidance does allow for child care centers to create more stringent requirements such as continuing to require quarantines and/or testing to stay when there is an exposure. Our policy is slightly more stringent than the CDC policy.
Exclusion Guidance for those who test POSITIVE
Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate at home for 5 days and can return to school and work if they have been fever-free for 24 hours and have no or improved symptoms. Masks (KN95 or comparable) are required for an additional 5 days after their isolation period when they return to school or work.
Students and staff must wear their masks through day 10 at school. During days 6-10, your child may be seated at a table 6 feet away from other children during snack and lunch times because your child and other children in the room are unable to wear masks while eating. A teacher will sit with your child during snack and lunch, and will be masked or double masked during this time. This decision is to keep everyone as safe as possible, and may also decrease our need for substitute teachers.
If your child is a CLOSE CONTACT to someone who tests positive
As of August 2022, CDC states that students and staff are no longer required to quarantine if a household member has COVID-19. However, because the students in our care are unable to care for themselves, and isolating from the positive case may be very difficult, if someone living in the home of the enrolled child tests positive for Covid-19, that child will be required to quarantine if they have any symptoms, until the symptoms are gone, even with a negative covid test. If they do not have symptoms, they will be required to test negative before returning to school and again 3 days after the exposure. Ideally, testing daily is the best plan in this case.
If a household member tests positive for COVID-19, all students and staff from that household should wear a mask at school until the positive testing person’s symptoms are gone.
For more information about isolation, Covid-related hand washing and cleaning policies, and other mitigation strategies employed by our school, follow this link: Covid Plan for 2022