Contact tracing is a public health function performed by local public health departments to trace all persons who have had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19. This allows public health officials to put in place isolation or other measures to limit the spread of the virus. The Bay 91Pro 91Pro will cooperate with state and local health department contact tracing efforts.
The Bay 91Pro 91Pro had designated Maureen B. Virsinger, Assistant Superintendent for Business as the internal COVID-19 representative (CR). The CR is responsible for answering questions from students, faculty, staff, and parents or legal guardians regarding the COVID-19 public health emergency and plans implemented by the school. The CR will also work closely with the Suffolk County Department of Health and other school districts to monitor public health conditions and jointly develop response strategies.
The Bay 91Pro 91Pro CR has been trained in the basics of COVID-19 and contract tracing through Johns Hopkins University.
Glossary of Contact Tracing Terms:
Case: an individual with laboratory confirmed COVID-19.
Close Contact: close contact is defined as being within six feet of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time (ten minutes or more) at any period from 48 hours before a case’s symptom onset to a case’s isolation (positive test result) in such a way that they had an opportunity to acquire the infection (no barrier/no mask). One would also be considered a close contact if someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 coughed or sneezed on you, or shared food.
Proximate Contact: a proximate contact is someone in the same enclosed environment as the case such as a classroom, office, or gatherings but greater than 6ft (or protected by an approved barrier) from a person displaying symptoms of COVID-19 or someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Person Under Investigation (PUI): a close contact who has developed symptoms of COVID-19 and is waiting on a confirmatory test.
Isolation: isolation is the separation of someone who is infected with COVID-19 from others to prevent further spread of the disease. The isolation period for COVID-19 is at least ten (10) days from onset of symptoms (or test date if asymptomatic) and 72 hours fever free (without fever reducing medication) and other symptoms are improving.
Quarantine: quarantine is the separation of someone who has been exposed to a COVID-19 case and now has the potential to develop the disease. This is done to prevent the possible spread. The quarantine period for COVID-19 is fourteen (14) days from date of last contact with a case, provided no symptoms have developed.
Question: If a student tests positive and the students within the class/cohort are all in masks and 6 feet apart, must the class be quarantined?
Answer: This scenario would need to be decided on a case-by-case basis. There would be many factors considered including age of students, time spent in the classroom, size of the classroom, etc. If all were wearing face coverings and practicing social distancing, the likelihood that further positive cases are identified from that cohort is minimal. These individuals could be considered proximate contacts and should be monitored for signs and symptoms, but may not be a part of the contact tracing effort.
Question: If students are 6 feet apart in a classroom with no masks and one tests positive, is the class quarantined?
Answer: Yes. In this scenario, there will be a higher likelihood of identifying other positive cases related to the index case. Students wearing masks lowers the rate of transmission even when one is exposed to a case.