This is our weekly review of COVID-19 developments. It includes the Cook County Department of Public Health protocol changes that we sent out earlier this week. You can always find the latest updates in our COVID-19 Update Center, as well.
This week’s updates:
- Reminder: If you attended our vaccine clinic on September 20, the second dose will be administered on Tuesday, October 12. This will occur at Euclid (711 E. Euclid) from 5 to 7 p.m.
- While not directly related to COVID, please keep in mind that Friday, October 15 is exclusion day. That means that if a student is not current on their physical exams and immunization requirements, they will not be able to attend school. You can review the current health requirements on our website.
- Saliva testing continues on Wednesdays at each of our schools for unvaccinated students. There could be delays of up to 48 hours in receiving results due to SHIELD’s high volume of testing around the state. You will only be notified if your child tests positive, but can also access your child’s test results by signing up for the SHIELD portal.
- If a student is experiencing COVID symptoms, they must have a negative result on a lab-based RT-PCR test in order to return to school. Be sure to look for these specific tests when signing up at a pharmacy. Rapid PCR and point-of-care PCR tests are no longer acceptable.
- Also for a student who has symptoms, a doctor’s note for an alternative diagnosis is no longer acceptable for a return to school. For example, if a student has a sore throat and a doctor diagnoses them with strep, they will still have to quarantine for the appropriate amount of time unless they present a negative COVID-19 result on a lab-based RT-PCR test.
- A negative SHIELD test result will allow a student to stay in school if the student develops symptoms on testing day. However, if symptoms persist beyond testing day they will need to be re-tested or quarantine.
- If an asymptomatic student tests positive, but later develops symptoms, their return-to-school date will be based on the day they began experiencing symptoms. Previously it had been based on the day they tested positive.
- Please continue to be diligent about keeping your child home from school if they are not feeling well. Even if symptoms are mild, or possibly unrelated to COVID, erring on the side of caution will help keep everyone healthy.
- Our COVID-19 dashboard is updated daily with the number of students and staff who test positive or are in quarantine due to exposure.
We’ll continue to send updates throughout the week when necessary. Do not hesitate to call either the district office or your school if you have any questions.