Updated 8/5/2022
Individuals Confirmed or Suspected of COVID-19 and those who are Exposed
When to return to school/work from absence due to being positive for COVID-19 or for COVID-19 related symptoms
*This protocol is in effect as of August 1, 2022 and is subject to change according to the number of active cases in the area and mandates and/or guidance issued by TEA and federal, state, and local health agencies.
Criteria for returning to work/school activities for staff and students:
- Individuals who test positive for COVID-19:
- No symptoms
- Isolate for a minimum of 5 days following date of positive test.
- Symptomatic
- Isolate for a minimum of 5 days following symptom onset.
- Must be fever-free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medication.
*Masking is highly recommended for an additional 5 days after the initial 5-days of isolation for both asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals.
- Individuals exhibiting signs and symptoms:
- Same as above, except that individuals may return earlier with a doctor’s note stating the individual may return to school/work; or, receive a negative test result from a trained testing facility.
Criteria for exposed individuals:
- Exposed students:
- Students who are within a 90-day period from testing positive or are fully vaccinated
- Quarantine not required, but individuals do need to monitor for symptoms. If symptoms develop, individual must follow criteria above.
*In the case that COVID-19 case levels become severe, Lorena ISD will move to a 10-day quarantine requirement after last day of close contact or require individuals to present a
negative PCR test result (as long as test was administered after the last day of close contact).
- Exposed staff:
- Staff who are fully vaccinated or who fall within a 90-day period from testing positive
- No quarantine required, but individuals do need to monitor for symptoms.
- Staff who are not fully vaccinated or who are outside of a 90-day period from testing positive
- Must monitor for symptoms and are required to test twice during a 7-day period following exposure. Testing dates will be assigned by the campus nurse.
*If a person’s symptoms persist for more than 10 days, a note from a qualified medical
professional is required before returning.
**Students who receive a positive COVID-19 diagnosis and who participate in UIL/Extracurricular activities are encouraged to obtain a doctor’s release prior to returning to participation.
***If a parent identifies their child as a close contact to a positive case, they may choose to keep their student at home for a quarantine period. If this decision is made, the child is required to stay home for the quarantine period and cannot participate (including practices) in extracurricular activities until the quarantine period is over.
Parent Contact and Safe Return to Campus
- Requirement is for parents/guardians to pick-up within one hour after being notified by the nurse of a child’s illness. Please understand that the student will be isolated and clinics have limited space.
- Parents will adhere to acceptable/safe return to campuses following illness in accordance with TEA guidelines and current Lorena ISD policy; See “When to return to school/work from absence due to being positive for COVID-19 or for COVID-19 related symptoms” section above.
- The District will submit required reports of positive cases to the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District and to the Texas Department of State Health Services as required by law.
Parent Notification Regarding Positive COVID-19 Cases
- Lorena ISD is committed to being transparent.
- The primary and elementary school campuses will notify parents via email when a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 in your student’s class. In addition, the campus will send a campus wide email informing the campus of the positive case(s).
- The middle school and high school campus will send an email out to campus parents when a student or staff member tests positive. The email will include the grade level of the student.
- We will not send district-wide emails this year. However, the district will maintain the COVID-19 dashboard on our website. Positive students and staff cases will be tracked via campus and grade level. The dashboard will provide an overview of the number of positive cases in Lorena ISD daily.