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COVID-19 Exposure Reference and Guidelines
For TUSD Staff, Students, and Families

Printable Version in PDF | COVID-19 Guía de Referencia para Empleados en PDF

Definitions and Vocabulary

What is Covid-19?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.

Vocabulary:

Close contact:
A person who may be at risk of a contagious disease because of their proximity or exposure to a known case. Exact definition of close contact differs by disease; for COVID-19, the CDC defines a close contact, (with or without a face covering), as someone who has:
  • been within less than 6 feet apart for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period
  • shared household space or acted as a caregiver
  • had direct physical contact by hugging, touching or kissing
  • shared food or beverage utensils
  • were sneezed or coughed upon
(Source: CDC)
Fever:
A measured temperature of 100°F [38 °C] or greater per TUSD standard.
High Touch Surfaces:
Countertops, tables, hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, phones, tablets, touch screens, remote controls, keyboards, handles, desks, toilets, sinks, and faucets.
To disinfect High Touch Surfaces at home mix a diluted bleach solution (1 tablespoon bleach to 1 quart of water) or a household disinfectant that says “EPA approved to kill COVID-19”.
See TUSD Governing Board Regulation EB-R2-T COVID 19
Home isolation:
Persons with COVID-19 who have symptoms or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who have been directed to stay at home until they are recovered.
(Source: Discontinuation of Isolation for Persons with COVID-19 Not in Healthcare Settings, CDC)
Quarantine:
Separates and restricts the movement of people who have had close contact with someone with a contagious disease to see if they become sick.
Physical (Social) distancing:
Measures taken to reduce person-to-person contact in a given community. Measures include:
  • staying 6ft, approximately 2 arms-length, apart
  • not gathering in crowds
  • face coverings and barriers when indicated

Current District Information

Close Contact Answers

If you have had contact with someone outside your household with COVID-like symptoms, you are not considered a close contact and are not required to quarantine unless the person with COVID-like symptoms tests positive.

If you have had close contact with an asymptomatic (showing no symptoms) person who has had close contact with a positive COVID-19 person you are not required to quarantine.

Continue usual mitigation practices:

  • Physical distancing.
    Stay 6 feet apart
  • Wear cloth face covering
  • Frequent handwashing/ don’t touch face
  • Cover your cough/sneezes
  • Regularly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces

Symptoms, Testing & Warning Signs

Symptoms:

These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure (based on the incubation period)

  • Fever or chills
  • New or unexplained cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, or runny nose
  • New or unexplained muscle aches, headache, fatigue, nausea/vomiting or diarrhea
  • New or unexplained change in your sense of taste or smell

COVID-19 Testing:

  • TUSD requires evidence of a negative COVID-19 test when reporting a negative test result.
  • If an individual becomes sick during the school day, the health office personnel will offer COVID-19 testing.
  • Persons with COVID-19 symptoms will be sent home regardless of test result.

When to Seek Medical Attention

If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately.
Emergency warning signs include:
  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion or inability to wake or stay awake
  • Bluish lips or face

This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.

If you
HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR
OR
HAVE SYMPTOMS CONSISTENT WITH COVID-19,
you should:

HOME ISOLATE

Stay at home until:

  • 5 days have passed since symptoms first began

    AND

  • Your symptoms have improved

    AND

  • You remain fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication

    AND

  • You continue to wear a properly fitting mask around others for 5 additional days

If you are COVID-19 positive and have no symptoms your homeisolation iscomplete after 5 days have passed from thedate your test was administered

If you
have SYMPTOMS consistent with COVID-19
per TUSD
you may return to work/school
when you:

Per TUSD Regulation, you may return to work/school when you:

  • Show evidence of a negative test

    OR

  • Obtain a medical provider’s note stating that you may return to work/school

    AND

  • Symptoms have diminished and you remain fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication

If you are not fully vaccinated and LIVE with someone who
has tested positive for
OR
has symptoms consistent with COVID-19,
but has NOT tested for COVID-19,
you should:

CDC/ADHS/PCHD Recommendations

Stay at home (quarantine) until:

  • 5 days have passed from the date you were able to isolate from the individual you live with

    AND

  • No symptoms reported

  • You wear a properly fitting mask around others for 10 days

Test on day 5, if possible

If you are unable to isolate from positive/suspected positive person you live with, your quarantine begins after the completion of their home isolation

If you are not fully vaccinated and
HAVE HAD CLOSE CONTACT
with someone
who has tested positive for COVID-19,
you should:

CDC/ADHS/PCHD Recommendations

Stay at home (quarantine) until:

  • 5 days have passed from the date you last had close contact with the positive person

    AND

  • No symptoms reported

  • You wear a properly fitting mask around others for 10 days

Test on day 5, if possible

Definition of a CLOSE CONTACT WITH A COVID-19 POSITIVE PERSON:

Exposure for a total of 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour period with:

  • A masked student within 3 ft
  • An unmasked student and or staff member (masked or unmasked) within 6 ft

OR

  • You had direct physical contact: touched, hugged, or kissed
  • You acted as a caregiver
  • You shared food or beverage utensils
  • You were sneezed or coughed on or have gotten respiratory droplets on you

Information for individuals who are fully vaccinated or have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 90 days:

CDC/ADHS/PCHD RECOMMENDATIONS

If you are fully vaccinated and are without symptoms you do not need to quarantine following a close contact.

You wear a properly fitting mask around others for 10 days.

Test on day 5, if possible

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days you do not need to quarantine following a close contact.

If at any time you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, you will need to follow column 1 of this exposure reference and guidelines.

Note: If you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days and are experiencing Covid-like illness, it is recommended that you receive an antigen test rather than a PCR test

Fully vaccinated definition:

K-12 students are considered fully vaccinated if they are 2 weeks past the completion of the primary 1 or 2 series vaccines.

Adults are considered fully vaccinated if they are 2 weeks past and within 5 months of the completion of the Moderna and Pfizer 2 shot series vaccines or 2 weeks past and within 2 months of the completion of the J&J 1 shot vaccine. 

If adults are outside of the 5 months post or 2 months post completion of the primary series you must have received your booster to be considered fully vaccinated.

Questions or concerns about COVID-19? Dial 2-1-1 For more information, Visit the CDC Website OR Visit the Pima County Website.  Poison Control at 1-844-542-8201 should be called if an individual has COVID-19 symptoms or an individual who believes that they may have been exposed to COVID-19.


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1010 E Tenth St, Tucson, AZ 85719 | 520-225-6000