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Fairfield Union COVID Guidelines Update as of 1-26-22

Today, schools across Ohio received a notification from ODH changing the requirements involving universal contact tracing, case investigation, and exposure notification.  According to ODH, as COVID-19 has evolved, public health mitigation strategies have had to adjust periodically to address new challenges.  Therefore, the level of community transmission within society has made universal contact tracing, case investigation, and exposure notification impractical when combined with newly reduced timelines for quarantine and isolation.  One should assume they are potentially being exposed to COVID-19 and other viruses in routine interaction with others.  Due to today’s notification from ODH, please read through the updated Fairfield Union COVID guidelines below.

General Information:

• We strongly recommend all staff and students wear facial coverings on school transportation and in our buildings.  It is recommended facial coverings be 3-layer or better with N95 masks being preferred.
  
  

• ODH is recommending schools and health departments transition to notifying families of exposures in the case of outbreaks or clusters of positives in a single location.
  
  

• Health departments have the sole authority to issue isolation and quarantine orders under Ohio law (school districts only have the authority to exclude students from school based on the quarantine orders of the health department), and Fairfield Union will exclude any student or staff member with a quarantine order.

Guidelines for a Positive COVID Test or COVID Positive Person in the Home:

• Any student/staff member who tests positive for COVID or has a COVID positive person in their home, regardless of symptoms or vaccination status, will be excluded from school for 5 days from the date of the positive test.

  • Please note:  All tests, including over-the-counter at home test kits, must be medically proctored/observed and lab confirmed by a licensed medical professional.  A copy of the positive test must be provided to the school for attendance purposes.

• After the 5-day exclusion period, any student/staff member may return to school under the following conditions:

  • Must be fever free for 24 hours prior to return.

  • All other symptoms must be absent or improving.

  • The student/staff member shall wear a facial covering indoors, as much as possible, for 5 days.

    • Refusal to wear a facial covering will result in a report being submitted to FDH for a possible quarantine.

Guidelines for Exposure to a COVID Positive Person Outside of the Home:

• Any student/staff member exposed to a COVID positive person will be permitted to attend school daily by following the requirements outlined herein:
  
  

  • The student/staff member shall wear a facial covering indoors, as much as possible, for 10 days (refusal to wear a facial covering will result in a report being submitted to FDH for a possible quarantine); AND
    
    

  • The student/staff member shall continue to conduct daily symptom checks for 10 days following the exposure; AND 
    
    

  • The student/staff member shall immediately isolate and contact a medical professional if experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.

    • Any student/staff member who becomes symptomatic will be subject to exclusion from school unless an alternate diagnosis is provided by a medical professional.

Extra-curricular & Co-curricular Activities:

• Students participating in school activities who are close contacts of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 may continue participation in activities under the following guidelines:
  
  

  • The COVID positive person causing the exposure does not live in the home; AND
    
    

  • The student shall be symptom-free; AND
    
    

  • The student shall wear a mask for 10 days, when possible (locker room, bus, on the bench, when not performing).

We want to strongly emphasize to everyone that symptom checks should be occurring on a daily basis.  If you or a member of your family have any signs or symptoms of COVID, please do not come to school and contact a medical professional.

These guidelines have been developed with the goal of having consistency for our students, staff and families in the application of these guidelines, whether you are in a classroom or on a field of play.  We also want to remind our community that guidelines are subject to change as information is shared with us by health care professionals.

As always, we encourage any community members with questions or concerns to please contact Superintendent Chad Belville or the District COVID Coordinator, Carole Osborne.