COVID Information

COVID-19 Protocols for TK-12 School Settings in

Santa Barbara County:

*Revisions in red made to student sections on 2/10/2022 at 12:15 pm in coordination with Santa Barbara County Public Health School Team

STUDENTS

• When a student has a confirmed case of COVID-19 (regardless of vaccination status), they may:

  • Return to school on Day 11 and are fever-free for 24 hours with no fever-reducing medication and symptoms have improved OR

  • Return to school as early as Day 6 with a negative test (on or after day 5; antigen test preferred) and are fever-free for 24 hours with no fever-reducing medication and symptoms have improved

Individual Contact Tracing - Quarantine

Schools now have the option of either continuing with individual contact tracing or following a group contact tracing approach.

• When an unvaccinated student has had close contact* inside of school with a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19 and both individuals were masked at the time of the close contact:

  • Standard quarantine at home and return to school as early as Day 11 if symptoms are improving OR

  • Modified quarantine at school (excluded from sports, extracurricular activities and school activities) and are symptom-free and test twice weekly (recommend immediate and again between days 5-7). Modified quarantine may end as early as Day 6 with negative test (on or after day 5) OR

  • Shortened quarantine at home and return to school as early as Day 6 with a negative test (on or after day 5) and are symptom-free
    

• When an unvaccinated student has had close contact* inside of school with a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19 and either party was unmasked at the time of the close contact:

  • Standard quarantine at home and return to school as early as Day 11 if symptoms are improving OR

  • Shortened quarantine at home and return to school as early as Day 6 with a negative test (on or after day 5) and are symptom-free
    

• When an unvaccinated student has had close contact outside of school with a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19, they may:

  • Return to school on Day 11 if symptom-free OR

  • Return to school as early as Day 6 if they test negative (on or after day 5) and are symptom-free

  • For 10 days, wear mask, continue self-monitoring, handwash, and avoid crowds

• When a vaccinated** student has had close contact inside or outside of school with a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19:

  • Return to school provided there are no symptoms

  • Recommend to test between days 3-5 from close contact (antigen preferred), monitor symptoms

  • For 10 days, wear mask, continue self-monitoring, handwash, and avoid crowds
    

• When a student previously infected with COVID-19 within the last 90 days has had close contact inside or outside of school with a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19:

  • Return to school provided there are no symptoms: OR

  • If symptoms develop, they should test (antigen preferred) and remain home

  • For 10 days, wear mask, self-monitor, handwash, and avoid crowds

Group Contact Tracing - Quarantine

Schools now have the option of either continuing with individual contact tracing or following a group contact tracing approach.

• Groups of students with close contact, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status or prior infection, test within 3-5 days after last exposure.

  • In the event of wide-scale and/or repeated exposures, (e.g., grade-wide or campus-wide) weekly testing may be considered.

  • Any FDA-approved antigen, PCR, or pooled PCR test is acceptable. For individuals who have been recently infected (within the past 90 days), antigen testing is strongly recommended.

• Groups of students with close contact who participate in testing may continue to take part in all aspects of K-12 schooling, including sports and extracurricular activities, unless they develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19. Test and report positive test results to the school.

  • Students who develop symptoms should be removed from school and follow guidance.

  • Students who receive a positive test result should isolate.

SCHOOL EMPLOYEES

• Employees who test positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, previous infection, or lack of symptoms

  • Must isolate at home for at least 5 days from the onset of symptoms or the test date if asymptomatic

  • May be released from isolation as early as Day 6 IF:

    • they have a negative test (antigen preferred) on Day 5 or later of isolation AND

    • symptoms are not present or are resolving AND

    • fever, if any, has resolved AND

    • wear a face covering around others for 10 days from the date of positive test, especially indoors.

  • If the employee chooses not to test, they must remain isolated at home for the remainder of the 10-day isolation period.
    
    

• Employees who have had close contact and are fully vaccinated* AND have a booster vaccination OR are not yet eligible for a booster vaccination (*14 days after the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna or the single dose of J & J).

  • If asymptomatic, they are not required to quarantine at home, however they must:

    • have a negative test (antigen preferred) on Day 5 AND

    • remain symptom free AND

    • wear a face covering around others for 10 days from the date of close contact, especially indoors.

  • For employees who have recovered from a case of COVID-19 in the past 90 days, an antigen test is preferred.

  • If the employee chooses not to test, they may only remain at work if they:

    • wear a face covering AND

    • maintain 6 feet of distance for 14 days following the close contact.

  • If they are unable to physically distance, they must quarantine at home for the remainder of the 10-day quarantine period.
    

• Employees who have had close contact and are fully vaccinated AND eligible for a booster BUT have not yet had a booster vaccination

  • If asymptomatic, they are not required to quarantine at home, however they must:

    • have a negative test on Day 3-5 of quarantine AND

    • remain symptom free AND

    • wear a face covering around others for 10 days from the date of close contact, especially indoors.

  • For employees who have recovered from a case of COVID-19 in the past 90 days, an antigen test is preferred.

  • If they choose not to test, they must quarantine at home for the remainder of the 10-day quarantine period.

  • If they develop symptoms, they must be excluded from work pending test results.
    

• Employees who have had close contact and are unvaccinated

  • Must quarantine at home for at least 5 days from the date of close contact.

  • May be released from quarantine as early as Day 6 IF they:

    • have a negative test on Day 5 or later of quarantine AND

    • remain symptom-free AND

    • wear a face covering around others for 10 days from the date of close contact, especially indoors.

  • For employees who have recovered from a case of COVID-19 in the past 90 days, an antigen test is preferred.

  • If they choose not to test, they must remain in quarantine at home for the entire 10-day quarantine period.

  • If they develop symptoms, they must be excluded from work pending test results.

• Employees who are unvaccinated and have recovered from a case of COVID-19 in past 90 days who have had close contact

  • If asymptomatic, they are not required to quarantine at home, however they must:

    • wear a face covering AND

    • maintain 6 feet of distance for 14 days following the close contact.

  • If they are unable to physically distance, they must quarantine at home for the 10-day quarantine period.

  • They are not required to test for 90 days from the date of illness onset or positive test (if asymptomatic)

RETURNING TO SCHOOL AND WORK: SYMPTOMATIC STUDENTS and EMPLOYEES

Before returning to school or work, symptomatic students and employees:

• Must remain out of school or work for 10 days unless:

• they test negative and have improving symptoms,

• OR have an alternative diagnosis from a doctor,

• OR have a doctor provide documentation of a chronic condition.

*close contact is defined within 6 feet from someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19 for 15 minutes or more within a 24-hours period

**CDPH has confirmed fully vaccinated includes a booster vaccine only for those 18 and over. Per the CDC, vaccinations are considered effective 14 days after the second dose (or first dose if J&J).