Canton Public Schools Shares District Protocols For Students, Staff Showing Potential Covid-19 Symptoms

Press release from Canton Public Schools:

October 1, 2020 by Leah Comins

CANTON — Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Fischer-Mueller would like to share with the Canton School community the instructions for students or staff who show symptoms of COVID-19 as part of the district’s health and safety protocols.

District protocols will be reviewed and updated as new information is made available. Local community spread of the disease and available resources such as testing sites will influence any modification of the protocols.

While specific protocols vary, as outlined below, there are common elements. These common elements include evaluating symptoms and contacting the school nurse or COVID-19 Point Person, the requirement of masks for a symptomatic individual and safety gear for staff members evaluating that individual, separating the symptomatic individual, contacting the emergency contact for pick up, cleaning and disinfecting any affected spaces, and providing instructions for the symptomatic staff member or a symptomatic student’s caregiver.

Protocol for a Student who is Symptomatic at Home

Students must be screened at home each day for COVID-19 symptoms before they enter school buildings. This includes taking a daily temperature. If the student does not show any symptoms, the student may attend school. If symptoms are present according to the screening form, they cannot attend school and they or their caregiver must contact the school nurse or COVID-19 Point Person and inform them the student is staying home due to symptoms. Individuals will be asked to contact a healthcare professional for instructions and may be asked to remain at home for 10 days. If a student has a family member who is ill, the student can attend school if no symptoms are present and the family member is not positive for COVID-19.

Protocol for a Student who is Symptomatic on the Bus

This protocol recognizes that bus drivers and monitors play an important role in recognizing potential COVID-19 symptoms in students.

If symptoms are noticed as the student is getting on the bus with a caregiver present, the driver should not allow the student to board the bus. The student and caregiver must then follow the “Protocol: Student who is Symptomatic at Home.”

If a student shows symptoms and is already on the bus, the driver will ensure the student is wearing a mask or face covering and that other students on the bus are wearing masks or face coverings. Students will be instructed to keep their masks on and maintain the proper physical distance from the symptomatic student and each other. The bus driver or monitor will immediately notify the bus service dispatch that there is a symptomatic student on the bus and the bus service dispatch will contact the appropriate school and district personnel.

Once the bus arrives at school, it will be met by the school nurse or COVID-19 Point Person who will be wearing the appropriate safety gear and will bring a mask to place over the symptomatic student’s existing mask. Once all students have exited the bus, starting with the symptomatic student, the bus will be cleaned and disinfected. The school nurse or COVID-19 Point Person will then evaluate the student for symptoms. If the evaluation shows that the student does not have symptoms, the student may proceed to class as normal.

If there are symptoms of COVID-19 the caregiver will be contacted to pick up the student. The symptomatic student will wait in the medical waiting room for their caregiver to arrive, at which point staff will bring the student out of the waiting area to the caregiver. The student will remain in the medical waiting room until the caregiver arrives and may not go to class or ride the school bus to get home. Caregivers will be required to wear a mask or face covering when picking up their student. It is expected that a caregiver or emergency contact will arrive to pick up a symptomatic child immediately. Caregivers and students are urged to wash their hands upon arriving home and change their clothes as a precaution.

Protocol for a Student who is Symptomatic at School

This protocol recognizes that educators also play an important role in recognizing potential COVID-19 symptoms in students.

If an educator recognizes that a student has symptoms, a student reports symptoms or a student requests to go to the Health Office, the educator will ensure the student is wearing a mask that properly covers their nose and mouth. The educator will call the school nurse or COVID-19 Point Person to inform them that there is a student with symptoms. A “Hold Passing” will be called and the student will be accompanied to the Health Office by the school nurse or COVID-19 Point Person. Masks will be worn by all people involved, and efforts will be made to physically distance as best as possible. The school nurse or COVID-19 Point Person will then evaluate the student for symptoms. If the evaluation shows that the student does not have symptoms, the student may return to class as normal.

If there are symptoms a caregiver will be contacted to pick up the student. The symptomatic student will wait in the medical waiting room for their caregiver to arrive, at which point staff will bring the student out of the waiting area to the caregiver. The student will remain in the medical waiting room until the caregiver arrives and may not return to class or ride the school bus to get home. Caregivers will be required to wear a mask or face covering when picking up their student. It is expected that a caregiver or emergency contact will arrive to pick up a symptomatic child immediately. Caregivers and students are urged to wash their hands upon arriving home and change their clothes as a precaution.

Protocol for a Staff Member who is Symptomatic at Home

Staff members must self-screen each day for COVID-19 symptoms before they enter school buildings. Staff are required to fill out the screening form daily, including taking a temperature. If the staff member does not show symptoms, they may come to work. If symptoms are present according to the screening form, they cannot come to work and must contact the absence reporting mechanism as well as the school nurse or COVID-19 Point Person. Staff with symptoms will be directed to contact a healthcare professional for further directions on testing, isolation, self-quarantine and/or an alternative diagnosis.If a staff member has a family member who is ill, the staff member can attend work if no symptoms are present and the family member is not positive for COVID-19.

Protocol for a Staff Member who is Symptomatic at School

As noted, staff are strongly urged not to come to school if they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. This is for new symptoms or symptoms, such as fatigue, headache and runny nose/congestion, noted on the screening form to be in combination with a second symptom. If a staff member suspects these symptoms of COVID-19 during the day, they should follow the school’s protocols for getting another adult to cover their class and see a school nurse or COVID-19 Point Person to be evaluated for symptoms.

If an evaluation shows no symptoms, the staff member will follow the school’s standard protocols for being excused due to an illness other than COVID-19. If the evaluation shows symptoms, the staff members will be asked to leave the building immediately without returning to their classroom. Staff will be directed to contact their healthcare professional about testing, isolating or self-quarantine. If testing is performed, staff are asked to inform the school about the testing and results.

COVID-19 Testing Protocols

In each of the above protocols, if a person shows symptoms of COVID-19, a healthcare professional should be contacted to provide direction regarding whether testing should be performed, if isolation is to begin or if consultation for an alternative non-COVID-19 diagnosis is necessary.

If the student or staff member is tested and receives a negative COVID-19 test, they must remain symptom-free for 24 hours to return and follow a 10 day isolation. An exception to this protocol will be made if a non-COVID-19 diagnosis or alternative diagnosis is found by a clinician or with testing that confirms the symptoms are allergies, flu or strep. In this case, the student or staff member may return after 24 hours with improving symptoms and being fever free without medication, and is not required to wait the 10-day period.

If the student or staff member receives a test and tests positive for COVID-19, they must follow the “Protocol: Student/Staff tests positive for COVID-19.”

Additional information regarding the district’s COVID-19 response and the return to school can be found on the district website.

This press release was produced by Canton Public Schools. The views expressed are the author's own.