COVID-19 Management Protocols
ACTION PLAN FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE OR DISCOVERY OF COVID-19 SYMPTOMS
- Effective December 2021, school staff, including school nurses can not provide isolation or quarantine guidance to students or staff members.
- Students and staff members with a fever greater than 100.4 will be sent home and asked not to return until they are fever-free for 24 hours without fever reducing medications.
- Students and staff members who are symptomatic or who wish to test out of quarantine are eligible to receive a Covid 19 in our school clinics.
- Students and staff members are encouraged to follow up with their medical provider for quarantine/isolation guidance following a positive test result.
- Home test results are not being accepted as a medical excuse for student return to school. Please follow up with a medical provider.
- Students and staff members should consult with their medical provider regarding Covid 19 vaccination.
DECISION MAKING PROCESS FOR SCHOOL CLOSURE
Several factors will be evaluated when considering a possible school closure, including the following:
- student absenteeism,
- teachers on sick leave,
- availability of substitutes,
- impact on the community, etc.
We will work with our local health department and emergency management department when considering a school system closure due to COVID-19 rates of infection. Quantifying a specific number or percentage that would trigger a closure is difficult; however, we will monitor the numbers closely everyday and consult with the health department related to an appropriate response. Before closing a classroom or school, the Director of Schools must seek a waiver from the Tennessee Department of Education.
Closing individual schools for short periods of time during the school year due to illness and infections of COVID-19 may be necessary. If TDOE approves a requested district waiver and school closure occurs, the school will transition to online learning classrooms for the number of days of closure. This scenario may occur multiple times during the year.
Other factors regarding school/district closures will be considered, including, but not limited to, the following:
- A sharp rise in the number of new cases in our county
- The number of cases being admitted to the hospital and hospital capacity
- The guidance from the Blount County Health Department
- The recommendations from local emergency management authorities
- The recommendations from the Tennessee Department of Education
- The recommendations from the Governor
SYMPTOMS CONSISTENT WITH COVID-19
According to the CDC and the TDH the following are among the symptoms of COVID-19. This list may be updated.