COVID 19 Reference Guide

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

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

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.**

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.  View the CDC Information on Home Isolation

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.

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

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions Related to Close Contact

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

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 PCR test when reporting a negative test result.

· The PCR test is the "gold standard" in COVID-19 detection and will take from 1-5 days for test results. The Antigen test, commonly referred to as the "rapid test", usually takes about 15 minutes. Results from this test may not always be accurate, so you would need a follow-up PCR test to confirm a rapid negative 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

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

HOME ISOLATE
Stay at home until:

10 days have passed since symptoms first began

AND

Your symptoms have improved

AND

You remain fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication

If you are COVID-19 positive and have no symptoms your home isolation is complete after 10 days have passed from the date your test was administered

If you have SYMPTOMS consistent with COVID-19 but DO NOT think you have COVID-19:

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

Show evidence of a negative PCR test given after Day 5 of symptom onset

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 LIVE with someone who has tested positive for or has symptoms consistent with COVID-19, you should:

HOME Quarantine
Stay at home until:

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

AND

No symptoms reported

7 days have passed from the date you were able to isolate from the individual you live with,

You have evidence of a negative PCR test result on or after Day 5 of quarantine

AND

No symptoms reported *

If you continue to have close contact with the person you live with that is positive or suspected positive with no testing to determine otherwise, your required quarantine begins following the completion of their home isolation or as instructed by the PCHD

If you HAVE HAD CLOSE CONTACT with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you should:

HOME QUARANTINE
Stay at home until:

10 days have passed from the date you last had close contact with the positive person AND no symptoms reported

7 days have passed from the date you last had close contact with the positive individual, AND you have evidence of a negative PCR test result on or after Day 5 of quarantine AND no symptoms reported *

Definition of a CLOSE CONTACT WITH A COVID-19 POSITIVE PERSON:
With or without wearing a face covering:

You were within 6 ft. for a total of 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour period
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

If you have completed the 2 dose COVID-19 vaccine series: (Completion is defined as 2 weeks post second vaccine)

You are not required to quarantine when you have been identified as a close contact

2 weeks have passed since you received the 2nd vaccine.

AND

It is within the 3 months after receiving your 2nd vaccine

AND

You have remained asymptomatic

If you have tested COVID-19 positive within the last 90 days:

You are considered to have immunity and are not required to quarantine for 90 days from the last day of your isolation
Once you have tested positive, you may continue to test positive for weeks after you have the diagnosis of COVID-19

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.