MUSD Student Illness Protocol for COVID-19
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To ensure the health and safety of MUSD Students, we will follow CDC, ADHS, and Pima County Health Department (PCHD) guidance in response to student illness, exposure and/or student who tests positive for COVID-19. MUSD students are encouraged to follow prevention strategies to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19, such as consider wearing a face covering, practice physical distancing and frequent hand hygiene.
Parents/Guardians are expected to follow the steps below.
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When a student exhibits COVID-19 like symptoms:
- Should not report to school.
- If student is present at school and exhibiting COVID-19 like symptoms, Parents/Guardians will be notified by Health Office staff and asked to pick up student within one hour.
- The following criteria should be met for the student to return to school:
- The student is tested for COVID-19 and receives a negative COVID-19 result, he/she may return to school if symptoms have improved and student is fever free without the use of fever reducing medication.
- Or the student is not tested for COVID-19, he/she may return to school after 10 days have passed since symptoms began, and student is fever free without the use of fever reducing medication.
- Or the student receives an alternative diagnosis and is cleared by a health care provider, he/she may return to school.
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When a student has been exposed to COVID-19 outside of school:
- Should NOT report to school.
- Parents/Guardians should notify the Attendance Clerk or the School Health Office.
- If a Parent/Guardian leaves a voicemail message, the Attendance Clerk or School Health Office staff will return a call as soon as possible to confirm exposure and explain procedure.
- Student will receive recommendation to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days from date of last exposure to COVID-19 positive case, per CDC guidelines.
- The Attendance Clerk or the School Health Office staff will notify the Health Facilitator/School Nurse and student will be entered into Health Services tracking log and followed by Health Services.
- Student and Parents/Guardians should self-monitor/observe for symptoms of COVID-19. MUSD Health Services staff will follow-up with Parents/Guardians during self-monitoring phase to inquire about development of symptoms, and provide further guidance.
- MUSD will provide recommendations consistent ADHS Quarantine and Return from Isolation guidelines regarding exposure to COVID-19. The guidelines can be found here.
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When a student has been exposed to COVID-19 at school:
- Parents/Guardians will be notified ASAP and asked to pick up student within one hour.
- Will be placed in isolation at school until picked up by Parents/Guardians.
- Will be sent home and asked not to return for 14 days from date of exposure to COVID-19.
- The School Health Office staff will notify the Site Administrator and Health Facilitator/School Nurse of the exposure.
- Student and Parents/Guardians should self-monitor/observe symptoms of COVID-19. MUSD Health Services staff will follow-up with Parents/Guardians during self-monitoring phase to inquire about development of symptoms, and provide further guidance.
- MUSD will provide guidance in accordance with ADHS Quarantine and Return from Isolation guidelines regarding exposure to COVID-19. These guidelines can be found here.
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When a student receives a positive COVID-19 test result:
- Must not return to school and follow ADHS release from isolation guidelines, or primary care physician recommendations to determine date allowed for return to school.
- Parents/Guardians must notify the Attendance Clerk or School Health Office of the positive test result.
- If Parent/Guardian leaves a voicemail message, the School Health Office staff will return a call as soon as possible to confirm the positive test result.
- The Attendance Clerk or School Health Office staff will notify the Site Administrator and Health Facilitator/School Nurse.
- The Health Facilitator/School Nurse will complete required reporting form for notification to PCHD.
- The Health Facilitator/School Nurse and PCHD will contact Parents/Guardians for more information to help with case investigation and to determine close contacts.
- MUSD recommends Parents/Guardians respond to phone calls/texts from Health Facilitator/School Nurse and PCHD.
- PCHD will notify close contacts of exposure and provide quarantine guidance.
- MUSD will provide guidance in accordance ADHS Quarantine and Return from Isolation guidelines regarding confirmed COVID-19 cases. The guidelines can be found here.
- The student may be required to present medical clearance from physician to return to school after a positive COVID-19 test result.
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Upon student's return to school:
- The student should go to the School Health Office when entering campus and before going to the classroom.
- The Health Office Staff will complete the “Return To School Clearance” form.
- If the student is cleared, the student may return to the classroom.
- The student will be given a pass which will indicate that health clearance has been given to return to school.
- If the student is not cleared, the Health Facilitator/School Nurse/Health Assistant will contact the Parents/Guardians.
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More on exposure, isolation and quarantine:
*Exposure is defined as having been within 6ft of a person infected with COVID-19 for 15 minutes or more, with or without a mask.
*Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.
*Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick. These people may have been exposed to a disease and do not know it, or they may have the disease but do not show symptoms.
