COVID-19 Protection

Updated CDC Guidance

Updated Guidance: The updated Respiratory Virus Guidance recommends that people stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after both their symptoms are getting better overall, and they have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Note that depending on the length of symptoms, this period could be shorter, the same, or longer than the previous guidance for COVID-19.

It is important to note that the guidance doesn't end with staying home and away from others when sick. The guidance encourages added precaution over the next five days after time at home, away from others, is over. Since some people remain contagious beyond the "stay-at-home" period, a period of added precaution using prevention strategies, such as:

• Taking more steps for cleaner air;

• Enhancing hygiene practices;

• Wearing a well-fitting mask;

• Keeping a distance from others; and/or

• Getting tested for respiratory viruses can lower the chance of spreading respiratory viruses to others.

We considered multiple options for adjusting isolation guidance at different lengths of time. In addition to fewer people getting seriously ill from COVID-19 and having better tools to fight serious illness, CDC considered other factors such as the personal and societal costs of extended isolation. We also considered the timing of when people are most likely to spread the virus (a few days before and after symptoms appear). The updated guidance is easy-to-understand, practical, and evidence-based, as well as more aligned with long-standing recommendations for other respiratory illnesses.

Guía anterior: la guía previa sobre el COVID-19 recomendaba un periodo mínimo de aislamiento de 5 días más un periodo de medidas de precaución posterior al aislamiento. Se creó durante la emergencia de salud pública con una menor inmunidad en la población, menos herramientas para combatir los virus respiratorios y tasas más altas de casos graves, incluidas las hospitalizaciones y muertes.

Guía actualizada: la guía actualizada sobre virus respiratorios recomienda que las personas se queden en casa y se mantengan alejadas de otras personas hasta que, durante al menos 24 horas, sus síntomas mejoren en general y no hayan tenido fiebre (sin necesidad de tomar medicamentos que reducen la fiebre). Tenga en cuenta que, según la duración de los síntomas, este periodo podría ser más corto, igual o más largo que el indicado en la guía anterior para el COVID-19.

Cabe señalar que la guía no termina solo con la recomendación de quedarse en casa y alejado de otras personas si está enfermo. La guía recomienda medidas de precaución adicionales durante los siguientes cinco días posteriores al periodo de aislamiento en casa. Como algunas personas siguen siendo contagiosas más allá del periodo de "quedarse en casa", se recomienda un periodo de precaución adicional durante el cual se implementan estrategias de prevención, tales como:

• Tomar más medidas para purificar el aire;

• Mejorar las prácticas de higiene;

• Usar una mascarilla bien ajustada;

• Mantener la distancia con los demás; y/o

• Someterse a pruebas de detección de virus respiratorios puede reducir la probabilidad de propagar los virus respiratorios y contagiar a otras personas.

Hemos considerado varias opciones para adaptar la guía de aislamiento a diferentes periodos. Además de que cada vez menos personas se enferman gravemente a causa del COVID-19 y que contamos con mejores herramientas para combatir los casos graves, los CDC consideraron otros factores, como los costos personales y sociales del aislamiento prolongado. También tuvieron en cuenta el momento en que las personas son más propensas a propagar el virus (unos días antes y después de la aparición de los síntomas). La guía actualizada es práctica, fácil de entender y está basada en evidencia, además de incluir recomendaciones que coinciden con las que se vienen haciendo desde hace tiempo para otras enfermedades respiratorias.

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/index.html

Mode of Transmission

Breathing in air when close to an infected person who is exhaling small droplets and particles that contain the virus.

Having these small droplets and particles that contain virus land on the eyes, nose, or mouth, especially through splashes and sprays like a cough or sneeze.

Touching eyes, nose, or mouth with hands that have the virus on them.

Symptoms

May have no symptoms or can have any of the following: Fever or chills, Cough, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, Fatigue, Muscle or body aches, Headache, New loss of taste or smell, Sore throat, Congestion or runny nose, Nausea or vomiting, Diarrhea, dermatologic manifestations

Incubation Period

2-14 days

Period of Communicability

From 2 days before symptom onset through Day 10 after symptom onset

Criteria for Exclusion from School

For 24 hours until both are true: fever-free without using fever-reducing medications and symptoms are improving overall. Upon return and for the next 5 days, CDC recommends enhancing hygiene practices, wearing a well-fitted mask and physical distance from others when indoors as much as possible.

Reporting Requirement

COVID-19 deaths in persons <18 years of age and ICU admissions are reportable within 24 hours.

Outbreaks with hospitalization or deaths related to COVID-19 involving 3 or more in a core group of individuals within a 10-day period or if the school is no longer able to safely operate and provide essential services. 

Prevention & Control Measures

Staying up to date with vaccination, improve ventilation, wearing well-fitted masks, enhancing hygiene practices, and testing to inform actions.

How it works

When you have a respiratory virus infection, you can spread it to others. How long someone can spread the virus depends on different factors, including how sick they are (severity) and how long their illness lasts (duration). This is not the same for everyone.

When, for at least 24 hours, your symptoms are getting better overall and you have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication), you are typically less contagious, but it still takes more time for your body to fully get rid of the virus. During this time, you may still be able to spread the virus to others. Taking precautions for the next 5 days can help reduce this risk. After this 5-day period, you are typically much less likely to be contagious. However, some people, especially people with weakened immune systems, can continue to spread the virus for a longer period of time. For COVID-19, taking an antigen test can help you know how likely you are to spread the virus. A positive test tends to mean it is more likely that you can spread the virus to others.

Steps you can take

Individuals can

• Consider using additional prevention tools, such as taking steps for cleaner air, being diligent about hygiene, and using masks when you’re home sick to protect others in your home. This can be especially helpful if you do not have space at home to stay entirely away from others.

• Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing or chest pain), seek emergency medical care immediately.

Organizations can

• Advise people to stay home if they are sick.

• Provide employees with paid time off and develop flexible leave and telework policies to support workers to stay home if sick or to care for sick family members.

• Adopt flexible cancellation or refund policies for customers who are sick.

*Symptoms may include but are not limited to chest discomfort, chills, cough, decrease in appetite, diarrhea, fatigue (tiredness), fever or feeling feverish, headache, muscle or body aches, new loss of taste or smell, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, vomiting, weakness, wheezing.

REOPENING PLAN COVID-19 Procedures

Based upon this guidance from IDPH and ISBE, we will continue with multi-layered mitigation protocols to respond and to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This includes the following:

1. Follow the IDPH Guidance for excluding symptomatic students or students with a positive test result from school.

2. Enhanced ventilation systems to ensure the proper exchange of fresh air in the building

3. Promotion of hand-washing and hand sanitizing while in school

4. Cleaning protocols following the CDC guidelines

Por el momento, continuaremos con protocolos de mitigación escalonados para responder y prevenir el contagio del COVID-19 siguiendo las directrices del IDPH y de ISBE. Esto incluye lo siguiente:

1. Seguir la guía del IDPH para excluir a los estudiantes con síntomas o a los estudiantes con un resultado positivo a la prueba.

2. Mejores sistemas de ventilación para permitir un flujo adecuado de aire fresco dentro del edificio.

3. Promover el lavado y la desinfección de las manos dentro de la escuela.

4. Seguiremos los protocolos de limpieza según las directrices de la CDC

2022-2023 Reopening Plan- Mitigation Plan English and Spanish