​Amended Quarantine Guidelines

You may have heard about an updated school exposure and quarantine protocol called “Low-Risk Test and Return” (included below) which was approved by the Utah Department of Health and the Governor’s Office.  
The concern was that many students put into quarantine for possible exposure at school or during school activities were at “low risk” for contracting the virus. Many district and school administrators, and even teachers may see this as a step to mitigating issues of work overload and getting substitutes. That said, there are obvious concerns as well. However, we believe the instances this new guideline will be applied will be few.
On Saturday, during Council of Local Presidents, UEA President Heidi Matthews shared information with your local leaders regarding what the State Superintendent and Board did in consultation with the state health department.
Here’s the new protocol:
Low-Risk Test and Return
 A student, teacher, or staff member who was exposed at school to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 may return to work at a school or in-person learning if he or she meets ALL of the following:  

1. The school verifies the student, teacher or staff member who was exposed and the person who tested positive were both wearing a face mask as defined by the State Public Health Order on masks in schools. 
2. The quarantined student, teacher, or staff member has a negative COVID-19 test result (must be a PCR or antigen test, not an antibody test). The test must be from at least 7 days after the last exposure to the person who tested positive. 
3. The student, teacher, or staff member does not have symptoms of COVID-19

The Low-Risk Test and Return protocol does not apply to students, teachers, staff, or settings that are exempt from the State Public Health Order on masks in schools. 
If the student, teacher, or staff member who was exposed meets ALL three criteria he or she may return to work, school, or related activities, if the employee or the parents of the student choose. If the person does not meet ALL three criteria or chooses not to get tested, he or she should quarantine at home for 14 days from the last day of exposure. 
Anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19 and comes back to school after following this protocol must continue to watch for symptoms. If employees or students get symptoms, they should isolate at home and call their healthcare provider.
These guidelines only apply to exposures that occur at school. 
Please feel free to ask questions or share concerns you have by contacting Curt at Northern UniServ.