Staff reported Monday and students returned to classrooms Tuesday in the Hamilton Southeastern School District following the holiday winter break. Wednesday evening, parents received an alert about some changes in the COVID rules. Masks remain mandatory, but the local schools are incorporating changes in the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance.
Below is the updated guidance, per the Skylert issued late Wednesday afternoon:
Masks are still required at this time for all students and staff. Under this guidance, schools (with a mask requirement) do not have to quarantine individuals found to be in close contact with a positive case in the classroom, regardless of vaccination status.
If a student or staff member tests positive for Covid-19, regardless of vaccination status:
- Stay home for 5 days from the onset of symptoms.
- If the person has no symptoms or their symptoms are resolving (including no fever for 24 hours) after 5 days, they may come to school or work.
If a student or staff member is exposed to someone with Covid-19 in the classroom:
- Continue to mask at all times in the classroom, test on Day 5 if possible – no required quarantine since HSE currently requires masks.
If a student or staff member is exposed to someone with Covid-19 outside of the classroom:
- If fully vaccinated, including booster if eligible:
- May remain in school and continue to mask at all times in the classroom; test on Day 5 if possible.
- If unvaccinated or partially vaccinated:
- Stay home for 5 days; test on Day 5 if possible.
- Return to class on Day 6 if asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving (including no fever for 24 hours).
We are monitoring cases in our schools and will notify you of any changes to our masking protocols. If school(s) go mask optional in the future, the following quarantine guidance will be followed:
If a student or staff member tests positive for Covid-19, regardless of vaccination status:
- Stay home for 5 days.
- Return to school on Day 6, if asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving (including no fever for 24 hours without medication).
- Must wear mask at all times for additional 5 days in classroom (if unable to mask properly at all times, must remain isolated at home for full 10 days, returning Day 11).
If a fully-vaccinated student or staff member is exposed to someone with Covid-19 outside the classroom:
- May remain in school as long as continue to be asymptomatic.
- Must wear a mask at all times in classroom for at least 10 days (quarantine ends 10 days after the last day of exposure to the positive case).
- Test on Day 5 if possible.
- If symptoms develop, seek testing and isolate at home.
- If positive, follow isolation guidance.
- If negative, return to school when symptoms have resolved.
If an unvaccinated or partially vaccinated student or staff member is exposed to someone with COVID-19 outside of the classroom:
- Stay home for 5 days.
- Test on Day 5 if possible.
- Return to school on Day 6, if still asymptomatic and continue to mask for an additional 5 days in classroom.
- If symptoms develop, seek testing and isolate at home.
- If positive, follow isolation guidance.
- If negative, return to school when symptoms have resolved.
Please note, the CDC has also updated their definition of what is considered fully vaccinated and NOT fully vaccinated.
Individuals are considered fully vaccinated if you are:
- Ages 5-17 have completed 2-dose series (Pfizer or Moderna).
- 18-years and older have completed 2-dose series (Pfizer or Moderna) AND received a booster shot.
- Less than 2 months since the J&J dose.
Individuals are NOT considered fully vaccinated if it has been:
- More than 6 months since the last dose of a 2-dose series (Pfizer or Moderna) and have NOT received a booster shot (for individuals 18-years and older).
- More than 2 months for J&J and have NOT received a booster shot.
- Not vaccinated or have not completed the series.
Families may contact the school nurse or your pediatrician with any questions. Vaccinations may be scheduled at www.ourshot.in.gov.