COVID Monitoring

As of March 1st, the CDC changed their guidance for how COVID can be treated in schools. Last week, the MDH updated their guidance to reflect these changes. These changes were decided upon based on the following criteria: fewer hospitalizations and deaths from COVID, the availability of COVID vaccines and effective treatments, and high levels of immunity within the population.

What does this mean for EPS:

• Schools no longer need to report COVID numbers to the state. We (the health offices) still report respiratory illness outbreaks (10% of the student enrollment is absent with a respiratory illness on a given day).
• We have an emphasis on “precautions and preventions.”
• Stay up to date on all immunizations.
• Hand washing and cough courtesy.
• Cleaner air (use purifiers, HEPA filters, fresh air, etc.).
• Stay home when you are sick. Just like other illnesses, you must be 24 hours fever free without the use of fever reducing medication AND an improvement of symptoms to return to school. You may return when you can fully participate in all activities.
• We are no longer requiring a 5-day quarantine for positive people.
• We are no longer requiring masking for positive people.
• There is no testing, masking, or quarantining requirements for close contacts.
• Be considerate of those around you. If you work with or attend school with a high-health needs population, please consider wearing a mask for a few days and until symptoms resolve if you have tested positive.