Covid-19 Information

Daily Student Symptom Check

PRIOR to coming to school to help decrease the risk of spreading COVID -19 as well as any type of infection, all students need to complete a self screening and answer the following questions before coming to school each morning:

1. Do you have any of these symptoms that are not caused by another condition? 

• Fever temperature 100.4  degrees or above

• Chills

• Cough

• Shortness of Breath or Difficulty Breathing

• Fatigue

• Body Aches

• New Onset Loss of Taste and or Smell

• Sore Throat

• Congestion

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Headache

2. Have you been exposed to or been in close contact with a COVID positive person?

3. Are you waiting for the results of a COVID test?

4. Have you travelled outside of the United States within the past 14 days?

5. Have you had a positive COVID-19 test for an active virus in the past 10 days? 

6. Within the past 14 days, has a public health or medical professional told you to self-monitor, self-isolate, or self-quarantine because of concerns about COVID-19 infection? 

****If your child has any of the listed symptoms and/or your child has answered yes to any of the questions, please keep your child home and notify your child’s School nurse immediately as these indicate a possible illness that may decrease the student’s ability to learn and also put them at risk for spreading illness to others.****

REPORTING

If your child is experiencing any symptoms of COVID -19, please contact your child's school nurse immediately. The direct contact for any illness/Covid or injury related questions or reporting of symptoms should be your child's school nurse.

Here is the list of school nurses and their contact information:

Foster - Hilaire Bauer, CSN,RN  hbauer@mtlsd.net

Hoover - Hiliarie Bauer CSN, RN hbauer@mtlsd.net

Markham - Hilarie Bauer CSN,RN hbauer@mtlsd.net

Howe - Karli Gerhart CSN,RN kgerhart@mtlsd.net

Lincoln - Karli Gerhart CSN,RN - kgerhart@mtlsd.net

Jefferson Elementary - Lauren Suess CSN,RN lsuess@mtlsd.net

Jefferson Middle - Lauren Suess CSN, RN lsuess@mtlsd.net

Mellon Middle - Samantha DeFurio, CSN,RN sdefurio@mtlsd.net

Washington - Samantha DeFurio CSN,RN sdefurio@mtlsd.net

High School - Janet McGeough CSN,RN jmcgeough@mtlsd.net

Chairperson of Health Services - Deanna Hess CSN,RN dhess@mtlsd.net

SYMPTOMS REQUIRING SCHOOL TO IMMEDIATELY SEND A STUDENT HOME FOR REFERRAL TO THEIR PHYSICIAN FOR POSSIBLE COVID-19 TESTING:

1 or more of the following:

• New Onset Cough - not Asthma or Allergy related

• Fever 100.4 or above

• Shortness of breath

• Difficulty Breathing

• New onset loss of Taste and/or Smell

2 or more of the following;

• Chills

• Muscle pains/aches

• Headache

• Sore Throat

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Extreme Fatigue

• Congestion/Runny Nose

If your child is sent home with any of the above , one of the following will need to occur prior to your child’s return to school:  

• COVID-19 testing was completed:

  • Keep child home until test results reported and reviewed with your school nurse

  • Reported as negative and reviewed with the school nurse   AND

  • The child meets the school’s normal criteria for return after an illness.                                                                   

                                                             OR                   

• A health care provider has evaluated the child and documented an alternative diagnosis and confirmed that the child may return to school.

                                                              OR

• COVID-19 testing was not done and all of the following are true:

  • At least 10 days since the onset of symptoms AND

  • Fever free off anti fever medications for 24 hours AND

  • Symptoms are improving

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The direct contact for any illness/COVID or injury related questions or reporting of symptoms should be your child’s school nurse.  

Foster  - Hilaire Bauer, CSN,RN  hbauer@mtlsd.net

Hoover - Hiliarie Bauer CSN, RN hbauer@mtlsd.net

Markham - Hilarie Bauer CSN,RN hbauer@mtlsd.net

Howe - Karli Gerhart CSN,RN kgerhart@mtlsd.net

Lincoln - Karli Gerhart CSN,RN - kgerhart@mtlsd.net

Jefferson Elementary - Lauren Suess CSN,RN lsuess@mtlsd.net

Jefferson Middle - Lauren Suess CSN, RN lsuess@mtlsd.net

Mellon Middle - Samantha DeFurio, CSN,RN sdefurio@mtlsd.net

Washington - Samantha DeFurio CSN,RN sdefurio@mtlsd.net

High School - Janet McGeough CSN,RN jmcgeough@mtlsd.net

Chairperson of Health Services - Deanna Hess CSN,RN dhess@mtlsd.net

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School Communication

The Dashboard serves as notification to our community of COVID-19 cases in the District and is designed to provide the most up to date data for our community.  

The dashboard consists of two charts.  The first chart provides a snapshot of the total number of employee and student positive cases of COVID-19 in the District, and the second displays the total COVID-19 cases by month. 

We will carefully contact trace all cases of COVID positive individuals in our District buildings and programs.  Anyone who is identified as a close contact impacted by a positive case will be alerted directly by a member of our school nursing staff.  

 

If it becomes necessary to close a school due to COVID-19 concerns, we will move to remote instruction for the period of time established in consultation with the ACHD. We will communicate the school closing with parents by phone alert, email, and text message. 
Families: Please be sure to have your contact information up-to-date in the PowerSchool Dashboard.

Isolation and Quarantine Basics PDF

ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE BASICS
Due to the volume of new cases, it may take longer than expected for the Health Department to reach new cases of COVID-19 and their close contacts. Some people may not be reached at all. Here is what to do if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or are a close contact.

YOU HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 (ISOLATION)
What should I do?

Isolate: Avoid all others. Only leave your home for medical care. Remain isolated for 10 days since you first experienced symptoms of COVID-19 or 24 hours after symptoms improve, whichever is longer.

• If you tested positive and did not have symptoms, remain isolated for 10-days starting from the date you had your positive test taken.
• If you live with others, stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom if possible. Don’t share personal items. Clean and disinfect your home and frequently touched surfaces regularly. Wear a mask when around others and have them wear masks too.
• Do not get another test for COVID-19. You should NOT get a follow-up test to go back to work or school or to leave isolation after 10 days. It is very common for the test to remain positive for a couple of months, even though you are no longer able to spread the virus.

What will happen?

• Case investigation: If you see a number you don’t recognize – it won’t be blocked or unlisted – it may be a case investigator with the Health Department calling to gather information about you. Remember, the Health Department will never ask for financial information including social security, bank account or credit card numbers.
• To make case investigations faster, the Health Department representative may ask you to fill out an online form. This is secure and confidential.
• Contact tracing: You will be asked for names and phone numbers of recent close contacts.  A Health Department contact tracer will call these people and advise them to quarantine and get tested. Your name will not be disclosed to your close contacts.
• If you tested positive but are not contacted, continue to isolate and notify close contacts on your own. You should ask close contacts to get tested and quarantine according to the instructions below.

What if I tested negative for COVID-19 but had symptoms or was a close contact?

• Even with a negative test, you should quarantine according to ACHD protocol. If symptoms persist, consider waiting a couple of days and get tested a second time.
• Despite advances in our knowledge of COVID-19 and testing, false negative tests are still possible.

YOU ARE A CLOSE CONTACT OF SOMEONE WITH COVID-19 (QUARANTINE)
What should I do?

• Quarantine: Avoid people outside your household while in quarantine. Only leave your house for medical care and follow the ACHD quarantine protocol.  
• Get tested: It is important to know if you have COVID-19 and should isolate and notify your close contacts. A map of testing locations in the county is available here: https://bit.ly/ACTestingSiteMap

What will happen?

• Contact tracing: If you see a number you don’t recognize – it won’t be blocked or unlisted – it may be the Health Department calling to do contact tracing. Answer the phone and follow the instructions. Remember, the Health Department will never ask you for financial information including social security, bank account or credit card numbers.
• Due to the number of new cases, the Health Department may not complete contact tracing for all cases. If a friend, co-worker, family member, school or university says you are a close contact, please quarantine and get tested according to the instructions above.

HELP IS AVAILABLE
Isolating or quarantining because of COVID-19 can be challenging, but they are important tools to contain the virus. Help is available through the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania by calling 2-1-1 or by calling the Health Department’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-888-856-2774. Resources include:

• Food assistance: The Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank is offering home delivery for people who cannot leave their home. For information on scheduling a delivery, call 412-460-3663, ext. 655, or visit https://www.pittsburghfoodbank.org
• Housing assistance: Allegheny Link has is encouraging those in need of housing services and support to call them at 866-730-2368 or email AlleghenyLink@AlleghenyCounty.us
• Child care assistance: Trying Together has partnered with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services to provide information on finding child care at www.tryingtogether.org/find-child-care. Help is also available by calling Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 5 at 412-350-3577
• Assistance for seniors: Allegheny County’s SeniorLine can be reached at 412-350-5460
• Substance abuse disorder assistance: PA Get Help Now can be reached at 1-800-662-HELP
• To report child abuse or neglect: Call Childline at 1-800-932-0313
• Concerned about abuse or neglect of an older adult or an adult with disabilities: Older Adult Protective Service can be reached at 412-350-6905 or 1-800-490-8505

 

Allegheny County Health Department Frequently Asked Questions: COVID-19 Exposure at School or Child Care   (Updated 7/27/2021)

Please review the link on travelers from the PA DOH and CDC for the most up to date information regarding travel.  

Pennsylvania Department of Health COVID-19 Information for Travelers

CDC Travel During a Pandemic

 

All students, staff and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear face coverings per PA Acting Director of Health's order (updated August 31, 2021).

The use of face coverings is one of the important ways to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  

Face coverings are meant to protect other people in case the wearer is unknowingly affected but does not have symptoms.  Face coverings are not Personal Protective Equipment.  

CDC does not currently recommend use of face shields as a substitute for masks.

Handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of any virus and avoid getting others sick.

It is especially important to wash your hands frequently with soap and water while scrubbing the palms, back of hands, in-between fingers and underneath the fingernails. Be sure to lather for at least 20 seconds or more and dry your hands with a clean towel or air dry them.

You can help yourself and your loved ones stay healthy by washing your hands often, especially during these key times when you are likely to get and spread germs:

 

• Before, during, and after preparing food

• Before eating food

• Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea

• Before and after treating a cut or wound

• After using the toilet

• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet

• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste

• After handling pet food or pet treats

• After touching garbage

• After you have been in a public place and touched an item or surface that may be frequently touched by other people, such as door handles, tables, gas pumps, shopping carts, or electronic cashier registers/screens, etc.

• Before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth because that’s how germs enter our bodies.

 Watch a video of the best practice in handwashing.

Read important guidelines from the CDC concerning gatherings. 

CDC Guidelines for Personal and Social Activities

Due to COVID -19 we are asking for your help in decreasing the number and frequency of non-essential student visits to the nurse’s office.  Reducing visits to the nurse’s office limits your child’s unnecessary exposure to possible germs.   

The District's Health Services Department is asking students to carry their own:

• Paper bag or baggie labelled with their name on it - to put their mask in for mask breaks

• Chap-stick  

• Small bottle of hand lotion

• Wax for their braces, but remind them not to share.  

• Change of clothes in their backpacks as accidents do occur. 

• Water Bottle

To further limit exposure, teachers will be keeping basic first aid supplies in their classrooms (band aids, antiseptic wipes, gauze, gloves) to treat minor scrapes and scratches.

Please continue to reinforce healthy hygiene habits such as hand washing, coughing into the elbow, and not touching the eyes, nose, or mouth.

Please contact your child's school nurse with any questions or concerns.

It is of vital importance that schools receive the Emergency Medical Contact/Release Information on each of our students on a timely basis.  

 Please note the following tips:

• You must go in under the parent/guardian’s Dashboard account, not the student’s

•   Emergency Medical Contact/Release Information is located under the “Account Preferences” tab

•  Please include parents/guardians (in priority order) as part of your four contact options if you wish to be contacted.

•  Please enter this information for each student – you may utilize the “Copy From” feature to expedite the process.

• If you have completed this information in a previous year, please review it every school year and even if there are no changes, click the submit button at the end of the page.  This will complete the process and the information will be saved.  Also, please click the submit button any time you need to make a change to any of the information.

• Students with more than one parent account or those that do not have access to a computer will need to complete a hard copy of the Emergency Medical Contact/Release Information sheet.  Please contact your child’s health office for a copy of this.

• Please contact your child’s nurses office for any issues, concerns or if you will need a hard copy of the Emergency Medical Contact/Release Information Sheet.

Thank you for your assistance in following through on this vital part of your child’s health record.  Please feel free to contact your building secretary for assistance with a Dashboard account and your building certified school nurse if you have a medical concern regarding your child/ren.

• CDC Managing Stress and Anxiety during COVID-19 Pandemic:
   https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html
   

• NASP Talking to children about COVID-19 (multilingual resources available):
   https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crisis-resources/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-(coronavirus)-a-parent-resource

• NCTSN Caregiver COVID-19 Preparedness fact sheet:
   https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/fact-sheet/outbreak_factsheet_1.pdf
   

• SAMSHA Taking care of behavioral health during an infectious disease outbreak:
   https://store.samhsa.gov/product/Taking-Care-of-Your-Behavioral-Health-During-an-Infectious-Disease-Outbreak/sma14-4894
   

• Resolve Crisis Services: 1-888-7-YOU-CAN; 1-888-796-8226
   

• National Suicide Prevention Line: 1-800-273-8255 / Text CONNECT 741741

Center for Disease Controls (CDC)

Allegheny County Health Department

Pennsylvania Department of Health

World Health Organization (WHO)

CDC Stop the Spread of Germs

CDC Symptoms of COVID-19

Mt. Lebanon Municipality Preparations

stclair.org