COVID-19 Resources - SCSD Health & Safety Plan
San Carlos School District Health & Safety Plan
The SMCOE COVID-19 Safe Schools Framework replaces the Pandemic Recovery Framework, which guided the safe reopening and operation of public and private schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. This document was developed in consultation with San Mateo County Health (SMCH) and reflects California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidance and other relevant guidance for schools and districts.
_____________________________________________________
We will continue to add to this section of our COVID-19 Resources page to provide clarity on questions we receive.
COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K–12 Schools to Support Safe In-Person Learning, 2022–2023 School Year
COVID-19 Exposure at School (CDPH) Graphic as of August 2022
Stay Home When Sick and Test
- Self-isolate and take or be administered an antigen test as soon as possible to determine infection status.
- Remain in isolation while waiting for testing results. If not tested, they should continue isolating for 10 days after the day of symptom onset, and if they cannot isolate, should wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days.
- Consider continuing self-isolation and retesting with an antigen test in 1-2 days if testing negative, particularly if tested during the first 1-2 days of symptoms. Testing between days 3-5 is advised.
- Continue to self-isolate if test result is positive, follow recommended actions for isolation and contact healthcare provider about available treatments if symptoms are severe or they are at high risk for serious disease or if they have any questions concerning their care.
Student and Community COVID-19 Testing
Testing remains a key mitigation layer to detect and curb transmission of COVID-19. CDPH strongly recommends that schools facilitate access to COVID-19 testing for students and staff, particularly for vulnerable communities. CDPH has made some important shifts in its guidance around testing since the last school year, which are captured in more detail in the Preliminary Testing Framework for K-12 Schools and shared in SMCOE COVID-19 Safe Schools Framework.
Due to the increased travel and social interactions that often occur during school breaks, CDPH recommends that students and staff get tested for COVID-19 prior to returning to school following major breaks (e.g., summer, winter, spring). CDPH also recommends that schools provide staff and students with over-the-counter (OTC)/at-home test kits for use in back-to-school testing.
Move to Antigen Testing
According to CDPH, antigen tests should be considered the primary option for detecting COVID-19 in schools, instead of PCR tests. Antigen tests that provide rapid results are much better to guide immediate isolation to prevent transmission. A PCR test, on the other hand, picks up very low levels of virus, both before and after an infection (sometimes for months), leading to students and staff unnecessarily missing school despite feeling well and not being a risk to others. Both the professional, on-site antigen tests as well as the over-the-counter (OTC) at-home antigen tests have been effective in identifying persons who have infectious levels of all known COVID variants.
- CDPH will offer more distributions of OTC COVID-19 tests to schools. Schools may use OTC tests to supplant on-site testing in many situations.
- Due to the move to greater availability of OTC tests, CDPH expects the volume of on-site testing to decrease. However, CDPH will continue to support professional on-site antigen testing programs in the 2022-2023 school year.
- CDPH’s pooled PCR program will not be available in 2022-23. Schools that were in that program are encouraged to transition to the CDPH professional antigen program.
- Lab-based molecular tests (PCR/LAMP) are reserved for confirmatory testing with more guidance forthcoming.
- CDPH’s Professional At-School Antigen Program playbook answers many commonly asked questions about the antigen program and onboarding.
Additional Testing Resources
- Curative Central Middle School (parking lot) - Sign-up [through Dec 9] for testing at Central
- Curative Tierra Linda Middle School (parking lot) - Discontinued
- Other Community-Based Testing Sites in San Mateo County
- COVID-19 Testing for Schools and Students - Find up-to-date resources on testing in districts and schools as well as at home.
Vaccine Fact Sheets
Ventilation
if Nurse is unavailable