WHAT HAPPENS IF A CLASSROOM HAS A POSITIVE CASE OF COVID-19?

When a school is made aware of a positive COVID-19 case in a classroom, the school’s healthcare professional, administration, and the District’s Health Service Department will conduct contact tracing to determine who was in close contact with the positive case, be it school staff or another student. OKCPS will work in tandem with Oklahoma City/County Health Department Officials to report COVID-19 confirmed cases.Those identified during contact tracing as close contacts will be personally notified and provided with isolation information. Additionally, the entire school will be notified of the positive case. 

“Close Contact” Exposure refers to the number of cases when a staff member or student was in “close contact” with a person who has tested positive for COVID and has been asked to isolate. “Close contact” as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention occurs when an individual is within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 2 days (or 48 hours) before the infected person’s diagnosis.

Self-Reported Positive Cases refers to the number of cases when a staff member or student has notified OKCPS of positive results from a COVID-19 test.

COMMUNICATION REGARDING A POSITIVE COVID-19 CASE 

OKCPS will notify all families and staff of a confirmed positive COVID-19 case in a building/on campus. When contact tracing is complete, those who are determined to have been in close contact with the positive case will also be contacted separately and asked to isolate. 

Each Friday, OKCPS will also report the number of “self-reported” positive COVID-19 cases, along with the number of individuals who have been asked to isolate due to potential exposure to the virus. 

DISINFECTANT CLEANING FOLLOWING A POSITIVE COVID-19 CASE

In addition to the daily cleaning protocols, after notification of a positive / presumptive positive COVID-19 case in a building, high touch point surfaces and potentially impacted areas will be isolated and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. 

WHAT IS CONTACT TRACING?

Contact tracing is the process for quickly identifying and notifying people of the potential exposure to a confirmed positive COVID-19 case. A member of the District’s Contact Tracing Team will ask the individual who tested positive a series of questions to determine who they may have been in close contact with while on campus or at a school activity. In some cases, the Contact Tracing Team will also request the assistance of school personnel. Each person who is determined to be close contact will be personally notified and asked to isolate. 

WILL A STUDENT WHO HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 BE REQUIRED TO BE OUT OF SCHOOL FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DAYS?
A student who tests positive will be to stay home for a time period based on current CDC guidelines. Please note that learning will not be interrupted as students will be able to continue with virtual learning. After receiving a positive test, a student must meet ALL of the following criteria to return school:

• 10 days after the symptom(s) first appeared,
• Fever-free for the last 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications), AND
• Symptoms have improved

WHAT HAPPENS IF A TEACHER OR STAFF MEMBER TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19?

If an OKCPS teacher or staff member tests positive for COVID -19, they will be required to contact the District’s dedicated CV19 reporting line (405-587-2819) and contact tracing will be conducted. Information will be shared with the school building and families if staff or students have been exposed.

WHAT IF A STUDENT'S OR STAFF'S FAMILY MEMBER HAS A POSITIVE CASE OF COVID-19?

When the family member of a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, an exposure risk assessment will be completed by OKCPS to determine if the student or staff member is considered to be a close contact. If it is determined they are a close contact, all proper documentation and notifications will be completed and the individual will be required to isolate for 14 days. 

IF YOU BELIEVE YOU or YOUR CHILD ARE SICK: 

We ask our families and employees to closely monitor themselves for possible symptoms. If you or your child are feeling ill, please stay home. 

• Families should contact the District’s dedicated CV19 reporting line at 405-587-CV19 (2819) and press option 2 for students.
• A member from the OKCPS Health Services team will complete an exposure risk assessment form and advise you on next steps.