Brochures with additional information, as well as DHEC protocols for possible COVID-19 cases in schools, are posted at the bottom of this story.
A Spanish language version of the following letter is included at the bottom of this story.
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Dear Lexington Two families:
The following guidelines have been established to help keep Lexington Two students and staff safe during the COVID 19 pandemic. This information is based on current CDC/DHEC recommendations and may be modified to adapt to changes in guidance.
If your child has a health condition that would put him/her at higher risk of severe illness due to COVID-19, contact your child’s healthcare provider to discuss school attendance and recommendations.
WHEN TO KEEP CHILDREN OUT OF SCHOOL
COVID-19 symptoms requiring school exclusion (cannot attend in person) with or without fever (oral temp of 100.4 or greater):
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing –or-
- Loss of taste or smell –or-
- New or worsening cough
If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms before school, please do not send him/her (even if you have given medication to reduce fever). Keep your child at home. Notify the school nurse and contact your child’s healthcare provider for further guidance.
Other symptoms associated with COVID-19 include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea/vomiting
- Diarrhea
If your child has any of these other symptoms, exclusion from school (cannot attend in person) may be required based on your child’s health history and other factors. Please notify the school nurse and your child’s healthcare provider to determine whether exclusion is necessary.
POSSIBLE EXPOSURE TO COVID-19
CDC defines a close contact as a person who has been within 6 feet for at least several minutes (about 15 minutes), provided care/had direct physical contact, shared eating/drinking utensils, or had exposure to respiratory droplets of someone who has COVID-19. Quarantine is used to separate people who are close contacts of someone with a contagious disease like COVID-19. A person who is quarantining should stay home and avoid contact with others (including those in the same household) until the quarantine period is over. DHEC recommends that a close contact (of a confirmed case of COVID-19) who is showing symptoms of the disease be tested. For those who are not showing symptoms, testing no sooner than 7 days (after last contact with COVID-19 case) is recommended.
If your child has had close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, please do not send your child to school and notify the school nurse. The student will need to stay home (quarantine) for 14 days after the last contact to avoid the risk of exposing others if he/she becomes ill. If the contact is a household member, the quarantine period is 14 days from the date the person with COVID-19 ends isolation. Further guidance for people who have had close contact may be found at https://www.scdhec.gov/infectious-diseases/viruses/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/covid-19-case-guidance#).
Isolation can be discontinued when at least 10 days have passed since symptom onset, 24 hours since last fever, and overall improvement in symptoms; isolation period may be longer for those with severe illness. For someone testing positive but having no symptoms, the isolation period can be discontinued when 10 days have passed since the date of a positive COVID test. Further guidance for people who have tested positive can be found at https://www.scdhec.gov/infectious-diseases/viruses/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/covid-19-contact-guidance.
COVID SYMPTOMS AND RETURNING TO SCHOOL
Students with COVID-19 symptoms will be excluded per DHEC School Exclusion guidelines. If your child is seen by the nurse for COVID-19 symptoms and meets exclusion criteria, he/she will be given a mask, isolated from other students, and monitored until picked up from school. Isolation (avoiding contact with others) is recommended for those who are sick with symptoms of COVID-19 and have tested positive or are waiting on the test results. Please make sure that the school has reliable/updated contact information. (If symptoms are due to an underlying condition or alternate diagnosis, exclusion may not be necessary.)
Students with COVID-19 symptoms cannot return to school until criteria for return has been met. They will need to have tested negative for COVID-19 or have a medical evaluation that determines the symptoms were likely due to another cause OR isolate until 10 days have passed since symptoms started and 24 hours have passed since last fever (without taking medication to reduce fever), with overall improvement in symptoms.
More information on school exclusion can be found at https://www.scdhec.gov/health/child-teen-health/school-exclusion.
MEDICATION AT SCHOOL
We are taking measures to minimize unnecessary health room visits. Nurses will be working with teachers to manage minor ailments/injuries in the classroom. Please do not bring “as needed” medications to be given at school unless absolutely necessary. All once-daily medications will need to be given at home. If your child has medication that needs to be given during school hours, please contact the school nurse to arrange a time to bring the medication to school. Visitation is limited at school and an appointment may be necessary.
If your child has a nebulizer treatment given during school hours, discuss this with your doctor to see whether an inhaler/spacer would be appropriate for school. Nebulizers produce aerosolized particles that could put others at risk.
IMMUNIZATIONS
Make sure your child is up to date with vaccinations. Schedule an appointment as soon as possible with your child’s health care provider or the health department to get vaccines. Vaccines are important to protect children from diseases such as measles, mumps, chicken pox, and whooping cough.
DHEC recommends that everyone over the age of 6 months receive a flu vaccine. More information about flu can be found at https://www.scdhec.gov/health/flu/flu-vaccine-safety.
New vaccine requirements for the 2020-2021 school year:
- Childcare: All children born January 1, 2019, or thereafter will need to have two Hepatitis A shots.
- School: All children starting 5K in 2020 will need to have two Hepatitis A shots.
Students will need to meet all vaccine requirements to attend school. Talk to your healthcare provider today to make sure your child is up to date. More information on vaccine requirements can be found at https://www.scdhec.gov/health/vaccinations/childcare-school-vaccine-requirements