Updates from District 200 — New Health Guidance

District 200 School Community,

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has communicated that school guidance will align with the CDC guidance for schools that was released on January 6, 2022 and is also adopted by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the DuPage County Health Department (DCHD). The primary change in guidance is related to isolation and quarantine. Additional details are below.

As a result, effective immediately, District 200 will implement the updated guidance. Staff and students who began isolation and/or quarantine on or before January 4, 2022, are eligible to return to school beginning Monday, January 10 consistent with the expectations in the new guidance. Staff or students who test positive for COVID-19 and have no symptoms or their symptoms are resolving can be released from isolation after 5 days.

Expectations for Returning to School

• Students who are returning to school on January 10 should check in with the school Health Office upon arrival and before going to class. This will allow us to conduct a symptom check and reinforce expectations for masking and distancing.
• Staff members who are returning to school on January 10 should check in with their school principal upon arrival. This will allow us to conduct a symptom screen and reinforce expectations for masking and distancing.
• Anyone returning to school after testing positive for COVID-19 must ensure 6 feet of physical distancing anytime a mask needs to be removed (lunch, snack, water break) until 10 days after symptom onset or positive test.

Background Information
On January 4, 2022, CDC released new Isolation and Quarantine Guidance for the general public and school specific guidance on January 6, 2022 (Overview of COVID-19 Isolation for K-12 Schools and Overview of COVID-19 Quarantine for K-12 Schools). The following represents CDC’s new recommendations for K-12 schools:

CDC Recommended Isolation Period for Those Testing Positive for COVID-19

• Staff or students who test positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, should isolate for 5 days after onset of symptoms, or 5 days from specimen collection date if no symptoms are present.
• Staff or students who test positive for COVID-19 and have no symptoms or their symptoms are resolving can be released from isolation after 5 days. To calculate the 5-day isolation period, day 0 is the first day of symptoms or specimen collection date if asymptomatic. If they continue to have a fever or other symptoms that have not improved after 5 days of isolation, they should wait to end isolation until they are fever-free for 24 hours and their other symptoms have improved.
• Schools should ensure that staff or students who test positive for COVID-19 also do the following:
• Continue to wear a well-fitted mask around others (including at home) for 5 additional days after release from isolation. If unable to wear a mask when around others, the case should continue to isolate for a total of 10 days.
• Avoid being around students or staff who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease.
• If masks need to be removed (e.g., for lunch), ensure 6 feet of physical distancing until 10 days after symptom onset or positive test.

CDC Recommended Quarantine Period for Close Contacts to Someone with COVID-19

• Ages 18 or older and have received all recommended vaccine doses, including boosters and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people.
• Ages 5–17 years and completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.
• Confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days (you tested positive using a viral test).
• If a student or staff member falls into the categories above:
• Quarantine not required
• Wear a mask around others for 10 days*
• Test on day 5, if possible
• If a person develops symptoms, they should immediately isolate until a negative test confirms symptoms are not caused by COVID-19
  *Children who have received the primary vaccination series and are not eligible for booster doses after 5 months for Pfizer, 6 months for Moderna, or 2 months for Johnson and Johnson should not be excluded from school after close contact unless they develop symptoms and test positive for COVID-19. If masks need to be removed (e.g., for lunch), ensure 6 feet of physical distancing until 10 days after exposure.

CDC Recommended Quarantine Period for Close Contacts to Someone with COVID-19

• Ages 18 or older and completed the primary series of recommended vaccine, but have not received a recommended booster shot when eligible.
• Received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine (completing the primary series) over 2 months ago and have not received a recommended booster shot.
• Unvaccinated or have not completed a primary vaccine series.
• If a student or staff member falls into the categories above:
• Stay home and mask around others for 5 days. After that, continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
• Test on day 5, if possible
• If a person develops symptoms, they should immediately isolate until a negative test confirms symptoms are not caused by COVID-19.

District 200 schools have plans to ensure that people with confirmed COVID-19 and those identified as close contacts will be masked at all times indoors upon return and through day 10. During times in the school day when students or staff members may typically remove masks indoors (such as during lunches or snack time), they will distance themselves from others and must ensure they wear their masks when not actively participating in these activities (such as when they are not actively eating).

We value the importance of our students continuing to learn in our school buildings. This updated guidance is a positive step and it’s important that we continue to diligently follow the guidance as it evolves. Thank you for your continued partnership as we navigate this pandemic together.

Sincerely,

District 200