School Year 2020-21
Covid-19 Response

8/26/20 COVID Health Considerations

FA COVID-19 Health Considerations and Protocols at a Glance

We hope this guide will help familiarize families with Falmouth Academy’s anticipated response to various COVID-19 scenarios during the school year. Families—particularly those who live on the Vineyard or beyond the immediate area—are encouraged to consider their own responses to these scenarios, and to keep their emergency contact information updated as we all work together to keep our community healthy while we navigate the challenges associated with the pandemic. Questions? Contact: covidresponseteam@falmouthacademy.org. 

TESTING POSITIVE for COVID-19:

What if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19?

Parents must notify the school (covidresponseteam@falmouthacademy.org) that their student has tested positive and when; staff members must do the same. The student/staff member must remain at home and is required to isolate for at least ten days. S/he may return to school after 10 days have passed if s/he has gone 3 days without fever or fever-reducing medication and symptoms have resolved.

How will the school respond to this notification?

The school will notify local public health officials and the FA community by email that a community member has tested positive for COVID-19 and when, and will notify by email and/or a phone call to anyone who is determined to be close contact with that individual. Following Department of Public Health guidelines, the school will close off any areas used for prolonged periods of time by the individual who tested positive and wait 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting to minimize exposure potential for others.  

What will a message from school concerning a confirmed case of COVID-19 look like?

Dear Parents/Guardians,

The safety and well-being of our school community is our top priority. I am writing to inform you that there is a confirmed COVID-19 positive case within our community. The school has notified the Board of Health, and the individual is home and following isolation protocols recommended by the Department of Public Health. 

Those identified as close contacts of that individual have been notified directly by Falmouth Academy and have been provided quarantine instructions. If you have not been notified, your student is not considered a close contact. 

We continue to monitor this situation closely and will provide updates as necessary. As always, if your child exhibits any symptoms related to COVID-19, please contact your healthcare provider. 

Thank you for your ongoing support as we work together to keep our school community healthy and safe. Please contact covidresponseteam@falmouthacademy.org if you have any questions or concerns.

CLOSE CONTACTS:
How is a close contact defined?

If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, their close contacts are defined per the Department of Public Health as those who have been within 6 feet of distance of the individual for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more, over a 24-hour period, while the person was infectious. The infectious period begins 2 days prior to symptom onset. If someone is asymptomatic, the infectious period is considered to begin 2 days prior to the collection of their positive test.

What is expected if a student is identified as a close contact?
If the student is home, s/he should remain at home. If at school, you will be contacted by email and/or phone and asked to pick him/her up as soon as possible, but no later than 3 PM. Students identified as close contacts will be quarantined while awaiting pick up and not be permitted to travel on school transportation. Per the Massachusetts Department of Health, students should be tested and must self-quarantine for 14 days regardless of the results. Finally, we will inform the community via email that a person has reported that someone they have been in close contact with had tested positive for COVID-19 on a certain date and that the person is being tested and will not return to school until it is safe to do so.

What will a close-contact notification email look like?

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Your child has been identified as potentially having close contact with a community member who has tested positive for COVID-19. [It is necessary that your child leave school as soon as possible, but no later than 3 PM today. Your child will be quarantined until they are picked up, and may not travel home on school transportation.]

Due to this exposure, your child will be required to remain home from school and self-quarantine for 14 days. The local health department will be contacting you for additional information. Monitor your child for COVID-19 symptoms through the end of the 14-day quarantine period. If you believe your child may have COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Please inform the school if your child receives testing for COVID-19 and the results are positive. (Note that even if your child receives a negative result, the state requires that s/he continues to self-quarantine for the entire 14-day period.) 

Thank you for your ongoing support as we work together to keep our school community healthy and safe. Please contact covidresponseteam@famouthacademy.org if you have any questions or concerns.

What will the community notification look like?

Dear Parents/Guardians,

The safety and well-being of our school community is our top priority. I am writing to inform you that [a member] [members] of our community has/have been identified as a close contact(s) with someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19. The school has notified the Board of Health, and the individual(s) is/are home and following quarantine protocols recommended by the Department of Public Health. 

We continue to monitor this situation closely and will provide updates as necessary. As always, if your child exhibits any symptoms related to COVID-19 please contact your healthcare provider. 

Thank you for your ongoing support as we work together to keep our school community healthy and safe. Please contact covidresponseteam@famouthacademy.org if you have any questions or concerns.

SHOWING SYMPTOMS:

What if my student is symptomatic before coming to school? 

Students must STAY HOME (and inform the school and a physician.)  Additionally, they should get a test for active COVID-19 infection prior to returning to school.  If the test is negative, they may return to school once they have been asymptomatic for 24 hours.  If the test is positive, they will not be permitted to return until they have quarantined for 10 days, have been without fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, and symptoms have resolved.  If a student or staff member presents COVID-19-like symptoms and chooses not to be tested, they may return to school 10 days from start of symptoms, as long as their symptoms are resolved and they have been without fever for at least 24 hours prior to their return to school without the use of fever-reducing medication.

What if my student is symptomatic while on campus?   

The student will be directed to the health room, a parent(s) or emergency contact will be called, and the student will be required to go home as soon as possible, ideally within the hour of notification.  S/he may not travel home on school transportation. The student will not be permitted to return to school until the school can verify that the student has tested negative for COVID-19 and is symptom-free.  If a student or staff member presents COVID-19-like symptoms and chooses not to be tested, they may return to school 10 days from start of symptoms, as long as their symptoms are resolved and they have been without fever for at least 24 hours prior to their return to school without the use of fever-reducing medication.

When can my student return to school after showing symptoms?

Symptomatic students may return to school after they have tested negative for COVID-19, symptoms have resolved, and have been without fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications. If a provider makes an alternative diagnosis for the COVID-19-like symptoms, the individual may return to school based on the recommendations for that alternative diagnosis (e.g., influenza or strep pharyngitis).

If a student or staff member presents COVID-19-like symptoms and chooses not to be tested, they may return to school 10 days from start of symptoms, as long as their symptoms are resolved and they have been without fever for at least 24 hours prior to their return to school without the use of fever-reducing medication. 
 
How do I let the school know about my student’s test results?

To preserve confidentiality, please share your test results with our Covid-19 Response Team Coordinator, Charlie Jodoin at covidresponseteam@falmouthacademy.org.

SYMPTOMS:
What symptoms should I be screening for?  

  • Fever (100.0), chills or shaking chills
  • Cough (not due to another known cause, such as a chronic cough)
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Headache, when in combination with other symptoms.
  • Muscle aches or body aches
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
  • Fatigue when in combination with other symptoms
  • Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms.

TESTING SITES:

Visit the Commonwealth’s test site locator website to find a testing location near you:



FALMOUTH ACADEMY COVID RESPONSE TEAM:

Matt Green, Head of School
Charlie Jodoin, Covid Response Coordinator
Ann Aviles, M.D., School Physician
Carol DiFalco, School Counselor
Carmen DiSanto, Business Manager
Mike Earley, Assistant Head of School
Olivia Riddiford, Administrative Assistant
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