Updated Health Guidelines Bemus Point Central School District

Updated Health Guidelines Bemus Point Central School District - Updated 03/02/2022
Posted on 02/23/2022

Updated Health Guidelines 

Bemus Point Central School District


School districts in Chautauqua County are no longer required to do close contact tracing when students or staff test positive for, develop symptoms of, or are exposed to COVID-19. However, we will still maintain a list of close contacts that occur within the schools. When a known close contact with someone who tested positive for or has symptoms of COVID-19 occurs, we will notify parents and guardians of affected students and we will send the child home. 


These individuals are still expected to quarantine and isolate themselves according to the guidelines provided by the Chautauqua County Health Department. Regardless of where the exposure occurred, the student or staff member may participate in a Test to Stay or Test to Play Program. This allows for unvaccinated students and staff to be given a rapid test during their quarantine period and, if they test negative, to continue to attend school and participate in afterschool sports and activities.


We will continue to work  to ensure that all of our students, parents, teachers and staff have access to the information they need to take appropriate steps to protect themselves and others. 


Availability of Rapid Tests

The district has been provided rapid test kits from the Chautauqua County Health Department and from the New York State Department of Health. We are able to provide a rapid test kit to families for home use, or our building nurses can test students or staff in school with parent permission. Please contact either building nurse to request a rapid test kit. 


Building Health Office Procedures

Our goal is to quickly identify positive cases. Those who do test positive will be sent home and provided isolation guidance. Individuals are allowed to return to school under the following conditions:

  • Five days of isolation. (Day 0 begins when symptoms begin or on the day of the positive test.)
  • After five days, symptoms are improving. If symptoms persist, further isolation will be required.
  • Fever free for 24 hours.
  • Face coverings are required upon return from isolation during days 6 through 10 after COVID-19 infection.


Test to Stay Program

This is a modified, test-based protocol for asymptomatic PreK-12 students and staff who have been identified as close contacts to someone with COVID-19. TTS allows eligible quarantined individuals to attend in-school instruction if they receive a negative COVID-19 viral test a minimum of two times during the five-day period following exposure, unless recognition of the exposure is delayed or weekends or school breaks intervene. One of the tests must occur on day five. Students who continue to test negative through day five (after exposure to a confirmed positive case) will be formally released from quarantine on day six, but should continue to wear a properly-fitted mask through day ten. 


Students and staff are are eligible to participate in a Test to Stay program under the following conditions:

  • Asymptomatic Pre K-12 students and staff;
  • Identified as close contact (at school, home, or some other setting); 
  • Negative COVID-19 viral test (rapid antigen or PCR) a minimum of two times during the 5 day period following exposure, with one of the tests occurring on day 5 (if day 5 falls on a weekend, test should be performed the next school day;;
  • Negative test results must be reported prior to start of the school day;
  • Asymptomatic for the entire 5 day period; if symptoms develop, leave school immediately;
  • Maintain 6 feet of distance from others during mealtime to the extent possible;
  • Active monitoring of symptoms every day.

 

The building nurses may accept home test results or may offer rapid tests in the nursing office. 

 

Test to Play Program 

Students participating in Test to Stay may choose to also “test to play” for sports and extracurricular activities if they test negative for COVID-19 on every day that they are participating in the extracurricular activity. 


The building nurses may accept home test results or may offer rapid tests in the nursing office. 


Who Has to Isolate?

People who are confirmed to have COVID-19 or are showing symptoms of COVID-19 need to isolate regardless of their vaccination status. 

  • Anyone ages 12 or older and completed the primary series of recommended vaccines, and is eligible for a recommended booster shot but has not received it.
  • If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave your house. If you have a fever, continue to stay home until your fever resolves. Individuals may return to school on day
  • Continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days. 
  • Contact the building nurse so that we can establish isolation dates for the student or employee. 


Who Does Not Need to Quarantine?

If you come into contact with someone with COVID-19 and you are in one of the following groups, you do not need to quarantine

  • Anyone ages 12 or older and who has received all recommended vaccine doses, including boosters and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people. (You need to be fully vaccinated and boosted at least 14 days before the first date of exposure to stay out of quarantine.)
  • You are a student aged 5 or older and completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines. (At least 14 days before the first date of exposure.)
  • You had confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days (you tested positive using a viral test)

You should wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days from the date of your last close contact with someone with COVID-19 (the date of last close contact is considered day 0). Get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19. Anyone who had COVID-19 within the last 90 days and has since recovered and remained symptom free, does not need to get tested after close contact with someone with COVID-19. 


Who Should Quarantine?

If you come into contact with someone with COVID-19, you should quarantine if you are in one of the following groups:

  • Anyone ages 12 or older and completed the primary series of recommended vaccines, and is eligible for a recommended booster shot but has not received it.
    • Exposed fully vaccinated students, teachers, and staff who must quarantine because they did not receive a recommended booster when eligible can attend or work at school during the quarantine period where masking, distancing, etc. is monitored and enforced.
  • Anyone who has not completed a primary vaccine series.
  • Anyone who is not vaccinated.
Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.