SALT LAKE CITY-Thursday, Utah State Board of Education Superintendent of Public Institution Sydnee Dickson was instrumental in unveiling an 102-page document during a weekly briefing for covid-19 in the Beehive State at the Utah State Capitol.
This is officially known as the covid-19 School Manual that was unveiled by the Utah Department of Health, under the direction of state epidemiologist Dr. Angela C. Dunn.
Contributions have been made to this document by all 13 departments of health around the state, including the Wasatch County Health Department.
It is a comprehensive document that explores what will happen if a student or teacher should test positive.
Per the manual, such a circumstance would only cause a school to close in an extreme case.
Districts are encouraged to work closely with respective local school boards under their purview and health departments in the area before making a decision to close.
Any teacher, student or employee who tests positive for covid-19 is required to immediately isolate for a minimum of 10 days (the extent of one’s sickness varies).
This manual differentiates between isolation and quarantining.
Isolation is specifically for those who are infected. Quarantining, meanwhile, is for those who were in close proximity (closer than 6 feet) for 15 minutes or longer to a person who tests positive for covid-19.
Per Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, public schooling is considered “essential.”
Though we can’t eliminate all risk, we know we must provide a school environment which makes our teachers, students, and parents feel comfortable and safe. We are working to provide further guidance to help schools respond when someone tests positive for COVID.
— Gov. Gary Herbert (@GovHerbert) July 30, 2020
Therefore, per Utah law, this means a teacher or student may still go to school under a modified quarantine, following exposure to covid-19.
Under these circumstances, they should spend as little time as possible around others while not going to any gatherings until the 14-day quarantine period has elapsed.
If a person lives with someone who has tested positive, he or she will not be allowed to return to school until after a 14-day quarantine period.
Each school, including Wasatch High School, Rocky Mountain Middle School, Timpanogos Middle School, Daniels Canyon Elementary School, Heber Valley Elementary School, JR Smith Elementary School, Midway Elementary School and Old Mill Elementary School, will have a contact point for tracing.
This individual will work in tandem with the Wasatch County Health Department to provide the name of the person who tested positive.
Furthermore, the contact point will remain in contact with that person. Otherwise, the person’s identity will not be revealed.
Should the health department be unable to determine anyone in close contact with a person who tests positive, such as would occur in group gatherings, all in attendance will be under a quarantine for 14 days.
If none of them are showing symptoms, they will all be allowed to return to school.
A doctor’s note will not be needed as evidence of one’s sickness.
Obtaining a negative test result upon returning to school will also not be required.
Students, teachers and employees will then be placed under a 14-day quarantine every time they have a close contact exposure, per the manual.
The manual also asks local school districts to consider a “non-punitive” policy for attendance. It is hoped this will quell any concerns students or parents may have concerning school being missed.
