Sulphur Springs ISD administrators on Tuesday notified parents that the district’s COVID-19 plan has been updated to reflect recently updated CDC guidelines regarding stay-at-home timelines for COVID-19 exposure.
Under the Dec. 2 Centers for Disease Control guidelines, individuals who meet certain criteria could potentially spend shorter times in quarantine, reducing at-home times to as few as 7 days for some.
According to SSISD Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams, the district this semester has required students and staff considered to be close contacts to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 to stay at home for 14 days. Now, under the Dec. 2 CDC amended their guidance, if they meet one of two stipulations, they could be back at school sooner.
If it has been 10 days after the last close contact and the student continues to monitor themselves (monitored by parents) daily for symptoms and takes appropriate precautions through day 14, the SSISD student would return on day 11, according to Williams
If it has been 7 days after the last close contact, after receiving a negative COVID-19 test (either rapid or molecular) result administered at least 5 days after the last close contact, the student would return to SSISD on day 8, provided the student continues to self-monitor (monitored by parents) daily for symptoms and take appropriate precautions though day 14, the superintendent explained.
The rules for SSISD students who test positive for COVID-19 or who are experiencing symptoms IS STILL 10 days. When a student comes into close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19, parents are asked to contact their child’s campus nurse to determine that student’s timeline to return to school based on the new guidelines for COVID-19 exposure.
Parents may direct any additional questions may be directed to Williams at [email protected] or at 903-885-0999.
