LOA Families and Staff ~

I hope you have all handled the 'spring forward' well!! I am not one who loves losing an hour of sleep, but I am looking forward to the first day of spring (March 19) and all the warmer weather (minus the seasonal allergies)!! 

I wanted to let you know about our update to the LOA Covid Policy. In keeping with the recommendations from the CDC and Department of Health we have updated our guidelines for our staff and students.  

Here is the update in our policy: 

In terms of actual protocols, the key elements are as follows: 

• Positive Cases – will stay home until there has been a 24 hour improvement in overall symptoms, and fever-free (without the use of medication) for at least 24 hours; 

• Symptomatic Students – if on campus, will be seen by our staff and can consult a Telehealth practitioner, and then test if it is deemed necessary, with positive cases isolating (per above) and negative cases being addressed accordingly (including sent home for cough, muscle aches, sore throat, and/or fevers, etc.); 

• Exposed Students – will remain on campus if asymptomatic.

Please see below the updated information from the CDC: 

NEW from the CDC:

When you have a respiratory virus infection, you can spread it to others. How long someone can spread the virus depends on different factors, including how sick they are (severity) and how long their illness lasts (duration). This is not the same for everyone.When, for at least 24 hours, your symptoms are getting better overall and you have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication), you are typically less contagious, but it still takes more time for your body to fully get rid of the virus. During this time, you may still be able to spread the virus to others. Taking precautions for the next 5 days can help reduce this risk. After this 5-day period, you are typically much less likely to be contagious. 

Examples

For illustrative purposes, not to scale

Example 1: Person with fever and symptoms.

Example 2: Person with fever but no other symptoms.

Example 3: Person with fever and other symptoms, fever ends but other symptoms take longer to improve.

Example 4: Person gets better and then gets a fever.

These precautions include: 

• Practicing Good Hand Hygiene

• Covering Coughs and Sneezes 

• Cleaning Frequently Touched Surfaces

• Taking Steps for Cleaner Air

We are still seeing a large number of students with stomach viruses.  Please continue the following guidelines pertaining to stomach sickness: 

• Vomiting and/or Diarrhea: Must be kept home for 24 hours following the last vomiting/diarrhea episode.  This includes if students are sent home, they may not return prior to the time in which they were sent home the day before (ex; sent home at 10:00 am, student may not return until after 10:00am next day if no other vomiting/diarrhea episodes occur).  

HEALTHY KIDS = BETTER LEARNERS

Kind Regards, 

Jessica Tolbert, RN

Lake Oconee Academy

School Nurse