COVID-19 Positive Test in a school or district facility Response Protocol

HCS will activate a protocol for any staff member, student, or visitor who has been on campus
that reports a positive COVID-19 test.

Close contact* to an individual who reports a positive diagnosis will result in DPH-required quarantine. Students impacted by this
will transition to remote learning. Employees impacted will work with the Superintendent and HR to determine work assignment
and/or leave.

Staff, Student, Family Member, and Visitor Protocol  

1. Positive results report to a staff member or supervisor
2. Building administrator reports to the appropriate Henry County
   Schools cluster nurse to coordinate with the Department of
   Public Health.
3. Close contact* review conducted.
4. All persons found to have been in close contact with positive
   case will be notified by phone in order to begin quarantine.
5. Once close contact* notification is complete, a general
   message to school faculty and community will be sent via infinite
   campus.

Close Contact Exposure with Vaccinated Individuals:

Individuals fully vaccinated for COVID-19 who are exposed to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are NOT required to quarantine as long as you are NOT an inpatient or resident in a healthcare facility or a congregate setting.

       *Close contact is defined as contact within six feet for a cumulative
         period of 15 minutes or longer over a 24 hour period.

Communication of COVID-19 Positive Cases

Public Health Notification
Until further notice, Henry County Schools will notify local public health officials in all circumstances in which we receive notification
of a positive test, or in other circumstances that require further consultation.

Student, Family, and Staff Communication 
It is the goal of HCS to keep staff and families informed of COVID positive cases
impacting school and district facilities while respecting the privacy of
individuals. 

• For each positive COVID positive case, close contacts will be notified by
  phone
• After the confidential, private notification, a general message will be shared
  with all staff and families connected to the affected facilities through internal
  and Infinite Campus messaging.

HCS COVID-19 Dashboard
Henry County Schools will report weekly the number of positive COVID cases in
our district as well as impacted quarantine incidents in our facilities through an
updated Reporting dashboard on the Henry County Schools website.

Building Operations Response

Henry County Schools is implementing a coordinated preventative disinfecting protocol
in each building and office space.

If there is a scenario in which a positive COVID-19 case is identified and there has been contact with local
workspace, consideration for additional actions will be taken, to include: 

• Continue implementation of Preventative Practices
• Targeted Closure - close off affected areas for 24 hours or more
  (i.e. classrooms, offices, etc.)
• Short- or Long-Term Closure - decision made in consultation with
  public health officials in rare cases

If Quarantined...

Quarantined Students should:

• Monitor your personal health, and if you do not feel well, contact your family
  doctor.
  
  
• As long as you stay well, continue to access learning through our remote 
  learning environment.

Quarantined Employees should:

• Monitor your personal health, and if you do not feel well, contact your health
  care provider. Notify your supervisor if you cannot continue your work
  duties.

COVID-19 Positive Test Impact in a classroom or bus Quarantine Impact

Total school closure will occur if advised by the Department of Public Health.

Vaccinations: Individuals fully vaccinated for COVID-19 who are exposed to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are NOT required to quarantine as long as you are NOT an inpatient or resident in a healthcare facility or a congregate setting.

People are considered fully vaccinated:

• 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
• 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

If it has been less than 2 weeks since your 1-dose shot, or if you still need to get your second dose of a 2-dose vaccine, you are not yet fully protected.

Individuals fully vaccinated for COVID-19 who are exposed to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are NOT required to quarantine as long as you are NOT an inpatient or resident in a healthcare facility or a congregate setting. 

Vaccinated individuals should continue to follow all other DPH guidance to protect themselves and others, including wearing a mask, social distancing, avoiding crowds, avoiding poorly ventilated spaces, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands often.