As students return to the classroom on Aug. 10 amid the latest COVID-19 resurgence due to the BA.5 variant, there’s guaranteed to be students coming home with the tell-tale signs of infection.
Collier County has been labeled as having a medium rate of community transmission by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of only two counties in the state under a high transmission rate.
Collier County reported 824 new COVID-19 cases the week of July 22 to 28 and a positivity rate of 25.1%, according to state Department of Health data released July 29.
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The Collier County School District provided the following information on protocols related to COVID-19 for the 2022-23 school year:
If a student is exposed to COVID what do they, or their parents, need to do?
Collier County Public Schools suggests students monitor their health daily and stay home when sick; however, students are not required to isolate or quarantine if exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
If a student tests positive for COVID what do they/parents need to do?
The district will continue to follow the guidance from the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Department in Health-Collier, which state all positive cases must isolate for five days from a positive test result or first symptoms and may return on day six if fever free for 24 hours and symptoms are improving.
Will the district be tracking COVID positive students or staff this year? If so, when and where can those reports be accessed?
The district will work to follow the Florida Department of Health guidance for students who test positive for COVID-19. On a case-by-case basis, CCPS works collaboratively with the Florida Department of Health-Collier regarding notifications to parents of students who have tested positive for COVID-19. This includes daily reporting of positive cases to the Department of Health in Collier.
The number of COVID-19 positive cases will not be available publicly this school year. For historical context, CCPS previously allocated tremendous staff effort the previous two school years to provide the COVID-19 case information online — given the unique circumstances surrounding the pandemic — in order to assist parents in deciding whether to choose in person instruction for their student or the virtual teaching and learning options.
What do teachers need to do if exposed, or if they test positive for COVID?
Employees are encouraged to reach out to their principal to report their medical absence if they receive a positive test for COVID-19, and CCPS will continue to follow the guidance from the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Department in Health in Collier, which state all positive cases must isolate for five days from a positive test result or first symptoms and may return on day six if fever free for 24 hours and symptoms are improving.
What are the cleaning protocols this year for COVID?
Collier County Public Schools prioritizes the cleanliness of its school campuses. Specific to learning environments, daily custodial services include disinfecting all hard surfaces in classrooms, with deep cleaning attention to clusters of illness as defined by the Florida Department of Health.
School health staff receive routine and specialized training and monitor for communicable diseases to minimize the spread of illness.
Will there be any shields, dividers, social distancing, masking requirements or recommendations this year?
Plexiglass installed at front reception areas will remain at schools to minimize the spread of illness. Additionally, as a best practice, students are encouraged to stay to the right in hallways and staircases in order to ease foot traffic flow and minimize face to face crowd interaction.
If a student tests positive for COVID, how will they get school work or catch up?
In the event of a quarantine, students are able to continue at-home learning with their courses and assignments through the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) and the district-provided laptop. This allows students to continue learning whether at school or at home.
Where can parents get the most updated information on school COVID protocols, announcements, changes etc.?
School staff and the district use a variety of ways to communicate the health services offered and health-related information.
Nikki Ross covers education for the Fort Myers News-Press and Naples Daily News. She can be reached at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @nikkiinreallife.
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