WVDE Updated COVID-19 Protocols on January 5, 2022
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE BUREAU FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
West Virginia Bureau for Public Health Legislative Rule 64 CSR7-3: Reportable Diseases, Events, Conditions and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-n...
Exposure / Vaccination Status / Quarantine
- Exposed staff members and students DO NOT have to quarantine IF masks are worn by both parties at the point of exposure (including extracurricular activities).
- Exposed staff members and students DO NOT have to quarantine if you are fully vaccinated and have no symptoms. Testing is RECOMMENDED on day 5 and masks SHOULD be worn through day 10.
- Staff members are considered fully vaccinated if their primary series is within the last 6 months or they have received the booster.
- Students ages 5-17 are considered fully vaccinated if they have had the primary series meaning booster IS NOT required.
- Students 18 & older are considered fully vaccinated if their primary series is within the last 6 months or they have received the booster.
- Staff members and students who have had a documented positive case of COVID through a health department within the last 90 days DO NOT have to quarantine if you are exposed and have no symptoms. The health department must confirm.
- Unvaccinated staff members and students MUST quarantine for 5 days if within 6 feet of a positive individual for a cumulative 15 minutes within a 24-hour period. Testing is RECOMMENDED on day 5. If after day 5 there are no symptoms, then the individual may return to school, but a mask MUST be worn at all times except when actively eating through day 10.
- Staff and students who TEST POSITIVE MUST self-isolate for 5 days and may return on day 6 IF fever free for 24 hours and symptoms are improving.
- Positive staff and students MUST wear a mask on days 6-10 and social distance anytime a mask can’t be worn such as in the cafeteria.
- Tests should only be collected if the individual has been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications and other symptoms have improved. Loss of taste & smell may persist for several weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation.
Positive Cases
Participation in Extra-Curricular Activities & Exposed Youth Requiring Quarantine
Days 1-5: Quarantine per guidelines listed above.
Days 6-10: Not allowed to participate in unmasked extracurricular activities without being symptom free & implementation of a test to play strategy.
Test to play strategy:
- Recommends testing on the date the individual has been identified as a close contact
- Requires a negative test result on day 5 or after to be allowed to participate in unmasked extracurricular activities on days 6-10.
Participation in Extra-Curricular Activities & Positive Youth
Days 1-5: Quarantine per guidelines
Days 6-10: Not allowed to participate in unmasked extracurricular activities UNLESS a negative test result is obtained on day 5 or after.
Rapid tests & home testing are options for meeting testing requirements.
Household contacts of confirmed cases & quarantine
Public health recommendation for quarantine of household close contacts with ongoing exposure depends on the vaccination status of the household members.
The following groups do not need to quarantine if they came in close contact with someone with COVID-19:
- Individuals who are 18 years of age or older and have received all the recommended vaccine doses, including boosters and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people.
- Individuals who are aged 5-17 years and completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.
- Individuals who had confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days.
The following groups do need to quarantine if they came in close contact with someone with COVID-19:
- Individuals who are 18 years or older and completed the primary series of recommended vaccine but have not received a recommended booster shot when eligible.
- Individuals who received the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine more than two months ago and have not received a recommended booster shot.
- Individuals who are not vaccinated or have not completed a primary vaccine series.
Household contacts who need to quarantine should get tested as soon as their household member tests positive for COVID-19. If they test positive, their isolation period begins. If they test negative, they should remain in quarantine, and test again on the day their household member meets the criteria to be released from isolation. If they remain negative, they can be released from quarantine and should wear a mask while around others for 10 days. Rapid tests and home testing are options for meeting testing requirements.
DATE OF EXPOSURE:
EARLIEST POSSIBLE RETURN DATE (DAY 6):