PCPS COVID-19 Update: 1.10.2021

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PCPS COVID-19 Update: 1.10.2021

Tue, 01/12/2021 - 14:00
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It was so wonderful to have students in the buildings last week! It was great to see them again, but as expected we had multiple isolations and close contact quarantines. In fact, many students did not start back to school because they tested positive or were a close contact over Winter Break. Through a global pandemic, we will cherish every moment of in-person instruction with our students.

Over Winter Break there were 60 reported cases. Some of those were closed prior to the end of the break, but some were not able to return on January 5. Some students and employees were exhibiting symptoms and did not return, pending testing. The following were our in-school contact tracing investigations last week:

• 1.06.21 - One elementary classroom at Trout Elementary transitioned to Distance Learning for 10 days due to an in-school positive

• 1.07.21 - One elementary classroom at Garfield Elementary transitioned to Distance Learning and a case at PO-HI resulting in close contact quarantines for 10 days

• 1.08.21 - One elementary classroom at Roosevelt Elementary transitioned to Distance Learning for 10 days, and we had 2 positive contact tracing investigations at West Middle School resulting in several close contact quarantines. One WMS contact trace included a bus.

• We are currently working 8 weekend in-school contact tracing investigations. We were notified of positive cases after 4:30 on Friday, 1.08.21, and information will be provided as soon as possible. Two of these investigations involved vasity activites and bus routes.

Our goal is to have as many in-person contact days as possible. However, we fully expect for individual sites to transition to Distance Learning at some point. Please help us achieve as many days as possible of in-person instruction during these difficult times by practicing protocols during non-school hours. However, if a site experiences a high number of student and staff isolations/quarantines or if we cannot staff a building to ensure safety and supervision, we will transition a site/sites to Distance Learning for a period of 10 days. Be prepared with plans for Distance Learning for your child if the situation warrants. Keep up to date with our site %s on our PCPS Contact Tracing Spreadsheet at www.pcps.us.

We will continue to follow all OSDH protocols very strictly to ensure the safety of our students and staff including following OSDH guidlines for solations and quarantines.

With such high positivity rates, it is imperative EVERYONE do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19 by wearing face coverings, watching your distance, washing your hands, avoiding large group gatherings, and staying home if experiencing symptoms.

Quarantine is used to keep someone who may have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. People in quarantines should stay home, separate themselves from others, monitor their health, and follow directions from their state or local health department. We know from experience positive cases frequently come from family and friend gatherings; please put safety protocols in place to reduce the spread while spending time with family and friends, which include distancing and masking.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL IF THEY ARE EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS OR IF SOMEONE IN THE HOUSEHOLD TESTS POSITIVE.

Symptoms may include fever, chills, headache, general aches/pains, fatigue, extreme exhaustions, cough, shortness of breath, diarrhea, chest pain, nausea/vomiting/abdominal pain, loss of sense of taste and/or smell. If students exhibit any of these symptoms, please test and await results before sending them to school, even if symptoms improve.