As COVID cases continue to rise, we understand you may have questions about the district’s plan and the most current recommendations from public health agencies. Riverview continues to follow guidance from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Public Health - Seattle & King County (PHSKC).
To see the latest guidance, please click below:
Our intent is to keep schools open while ensuring students and staff are safe.
Mitigation strategies include the following:
Masking
Physical distancing
Ventilation
Frequent cleaning
Contact tracing positive cases
Successful implementation of Test to Stay program
Increasing vaccination rates among students
The guidance we receive from DOH and PHSKC advises us on next steps in the process, including if we need to consider closing a school, classroom, activity, or sport. If deemed necessary by public health agencies, our remote learning experience from last year provides us the knowledge and background to pivot any individual classrooms or schools temporarily.
Updated procedures for those who have tested positive, experience symptoms, or have been identified as a close contact of a known COVID-19 case are as follows:
All people with COVID-19 (with or without symptoms) need to isolate for at least 5 days.
For students, teachers, and staff who test positive for COVID-19 and never develop symptoms:
Isolate for at least 5 days. Day 0 is the day of the positive COVID-19 test and day 1 is the first full day after the specimen was collected for the positive test.
If they continue to have no symptoms, they can end isolation after at least 5 days, but must continue to wear a mask for an additional 5 days. This applies to anyone with COVID-19, regardless of their vaccination status.
If they develop symptoms after testing positive, the 5-day isolation period should start over. Day 0 is the first day of symptoms.
For students teachers and staff who have COVID-19 and have or had symptoms:
They can end isolation after 5 days if they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and other symptoms have improved.
If the person meets these criteria, they can return to school after 5 days of isolation but must continue to wear a mask for an additional 5 days. This applies to anyone with COVID-19, regardless of their vaccination status.
If they continue to have a fever or other symptoms have not improved after 5 days of isolation, they should wait to end isolation until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and other symptoms have improved.
Close contacts of a known COVID-19 case at school, must follow current quarantine guidelines or modified quarantine based on the Test to Stay program outlined below.
Test to Stay Eligibility:
The DOH Test to Stay Program and associated modified quarantine applies to the following individuals (students or staff) in all school and non-school situations:
Individuals between the ages of 5–17 years who have not completed a primary vaccination series.
Individuals ages 18 or older who completed a primary series of recommended vaccine but have not received a recommended booster shot when eligible.
Individuals who are not vaccinated or have not completed a primary vaccine series.
Modified Quarantine Guidelines:
Students may continue to attend class and participate in extracurricular activities (see below) in a modified quarantine status for 5 days after exposure (the date of last close contact is considered day 0), if they:
Are tested at least twice during the 5 days of quarantine; AND
Are symptom free; AND
Continue to wear a well-fitting mask when around others; AND
Continue to quarantine from (i.e., not participate in) all social gatherings and community activities. They may participate in extracurricular activities at school, including sports, and can attend childcare or youth development programs provided before and after school.
Staff may continue to work in a modified quarantine status for 5 days after exposure (the date of last close contact is considered day 0), if they:
Are tested at least twice during the 5 days of quarantine; AND
Are symptom free; AND
Continue to wear a well-fitting mask when around others; AND
Continue to quarantine from (i.e., not participate in) all social gatherings and community activities.
Close contacts who choose to not participate in Riverview’s Test to Stay Program
If an individual or student who is a close contact chooses not to test or does not get tested:
10-day Quarantine: Quarantine should last for 10 days after the last close contact. However, if any COVID-19 symptoms develop during the 10 days, the individual should isolate and get tested.
Riverview’s commitment to students and families remains steadfast. After just one week of participation in the Test to Stay program, Riverview is thrilled to announce that this program has enabled approximately 130 students to remain in the classroom. These are students who, without the program, would previously have been home for 10 days.
Thank you for your continued support and we will continue to provide updates should guidance change.
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