Schools
BUSD Update On Indoor Masking Requirements
Both COVID and RSV cases are increasing here in Berkeley.
Press release from the Berkeley Unified School District:
Dear Berkeley Unified Community,
I am writing to provide a COVID-19 update to our school community. Although the CDC continues to report a “low” COVID-19 community level in Alameda County, we are experiencing an uptick in reported cases at BUSD in the first two weeks of November compared to the first two weeks of October. Due to this small uptick and in advance of a COVID-19 surge that the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has suggested is likely during the fall-winter months, I want to update you on our latest COVID-19 protocols at BUSD.
Please note that Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV) cases are also on the rise, and we are in flu season as well. As a reminder, COVID-19 cases that were on campus or at a district facility during their infectious period continue to be reported on BUSD’s COVID-19 Case Dashboard.
Mask requirements
If we continue to see an uptick in cases and move into a fall/winter surge, we expect to strongly recommend indoor masking at all BUSD schools and facilities, as it is an important COVID-19 risk mitigation measure. When community levels are high, the CDC recommends masks in all indoor public spaces, regardless of vaccination status and personal risk.
Remember also that students should mask for 10 days after an exposure to a COVID-19 case and for 10 days after testing positive. Cal/OSHA requires staff to mask for 10 days after an exposure and for 10 days after testing positive.
COVID-19 Testing Changes if Cases Continue to Increase
At this time the district is providing “Response Testing,” making tests available to students and staff with symptoms or who are close contacts to a COVID-19 case. If we continue to experience an uptick in cases, we plan to announce a move back to “Surveillance Testing,” making tests available to every student and staff member each week.
Please Test Before Returning from Fall Break
In alignment with CDPH guidance, we encourage all students and staff to test for COVID-19 before they return to school following Fall Break. Over the counter test kits will be made available to all BUSD students and staff this week. School principals and staff managers will communicate how tests will be distributed.
When to Test
Stay Home With Symptoms
All persons with COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status or previous infection, should:- Isolate
- Wear a well-fitting mask
- Test as soon as possible
If the Test is Negative:You may return to BUSD with a negative test result, improving symptoms and after having been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine.
You may return to BUSD with a negative test result, improving symptoms and after having been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine.
Report Positive Cases
After a positive test result, please do not return to BUSD until our Contact Tracing Team is in touch with you.
Student positive tests should be reported to BUSD using this Google form.
Staff positive tests should be reported to BUSD using this Google form.
If you are unable to report a positive case using the form, you can also report COVID cases to BUSD by emailing covidcase@berkeley.net. Please include the following:
Upload Test Results to Primary Health
Uploading the results of at-home tests for students and staff to Primary Health will help BUSD and our Public Health partners get an early look at disease transmission in our school community. If you/your student used Primary Health last year and haven’t already done so, you will need to update your registration by clicking here.
If you/your student never registered for COVID-19 testing in Primary Health, you can register here.
Instructions for Uploading Test Results
Once you are registered, or have updated your registration at Primary Health, click on this link to sign into your Primary Health Account After signing in, it will prompt you to upload your test results.Please click on the links below for specific instructions for logging your OTC test results in Primary Health.
CDPH (English): Instructions for Logging Test Results in Primary Health
Symptomatic and Return-to-BUSD Testing at Berkeley Adult School
BUSD will provide proctored testing at Berkeley Adult School in November at the following schedule:
BUSD testing occurs at the back parking lot of Berkeley Adult School, found on Curtis St. between Virginia and Francisco St. Please park in the top parking lot, go to the testing table to be tested, and then exit through the Curtis St. entrance/exit again when you leave.
Other Testing Options: Please visit the City of Berkeley COVID testing information webpage for other testing options during the school break.
COVID-19 Vaccines and Boosters
CDPH recommends that all eligible individuals get vaccinated against COVID-19 and remain up-to-date with recommended boosters.
BUSD is hosting a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in partnership with the City of Berkeley and Carbon Health at Rosa Parks Elementary school on Saturday, November 19 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Please click here to schedule your appointment today. NOTE: We expect this clinic to fill up. Please also check the City of Berkeley COVID-19 vaccination information page for other vaccination resources.
CDPH recommends that all eligible individuals get vaccinated against COVID-19 and remain up-to-date with recommended boosters.
Contact Tracing When Experiencing Increased COVID-19 Cases
When cases are elevated, our contract tracing team will switch from sending individual close contact notifications to parents/caregivers after an in-school exposure to a case, to sending “all-school” close contact notifications for students. These notifications mention that cases are increasing and urge everyone to test weekly and follow other COVID-19 protocols.
Thank you for your continued support of the district’s efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our schools during this likely surge period.
In community,
Enikia Ford Morthel
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