COVID-19 Information

Public health agencies will continue to guide the District’s decision-making process as the school year progresses, and with that, a couple of reminders:

• Masks are required on all school buses and vans.
• Mask use is required by all individuals in all district buildings during instructional hours.
• Students and staff are strongly recommended to get tested for COVID-19 regularly.
• Anyone experiencing illness must stay home and are strongly recommended to get tested for COVID-19.
• Families should report all positive cases of COVID-19 to their building school nurse. 
• Students or staff with a positive test for COVID-19 and symptoms must stay home and isolate for at least 10 days from the time the symptoms begin until symptoms have improved AND they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
• Students or staff with a positive test for COVID-19 without symptoms must stay home for 10 days beginning the day they were tested.
• Public Health Recommendations for close contacts include the following: Except in certain circumstances, people who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 should quarantine. However, the following people with recent exposure may NOT need to quarantine:
  • People who have been fully vaccinated
  • People who were previously diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last three months
  • Masked students in the classroom when the positive case is also masked

Please remember this situation can rapidly change.

All persons may temporarily remove a face covering in the following situations, provided that social distancing of at least six feet (or more, if specified below) is maintained, to the extent possible:

• When engaging in indoor physical activity where the level of exertion makes wearing a face covering difficult or impracticable;
• When eating or drinking;
• When participating in practices or performances involving singing, acting, public speaking (e.g. debate or speech team events), or playing musical instruments that make wearing a face covering difficult or impracticable, provided that six feet of social distancing is maintained, to the extent possible;
• When asked to remove the covering for identification purposes, such as when a person enters a school building during the school day and a staff member asks the person to remove the face covering briefly for the purposes of verifying the person’s identity;
• When communicating with an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing or who has a disability, medical condition, or mental health condition that makes communication with a face covering difficult;
• When participating in activities, such as swimming or showering, that would cause the face covering to become wet; and
• When receiving a service – including nursing, medical, or personal care services – that cannot be performed or would be difficult to perform when the individual receiving the service is wearing a face covering.

Staff may temporarily remove face coverings when working alone (such that social distancing is maintained), including when alone in an office, classroom, district vehicle, cubicle with walls or barriers (including plexiglass) that are at least face level, or other enclosed work area.

The following face coverings are acceptable:

• Paper or disposable masks
• Cloth face masks
• Scarves
• Neck gaiters
• Bandanas
• Religious face coverings
• Medical grade masks or respirators

 See other types of face protection information here.

The CDC does not recommend using face shields instead of masks because it's unclear how much protection shields provide. However, in rare situations, wearing a face mask may not be possible. If you must use a face shield instead of a mask, choose one that wraps around the sides of your face and extends below your chin. For a graphic illustration of proper use of face shields, review the Minnesota Department of Health Considerations for Face Shields.

Please note that wearing a face shield could lead to quarantine if identified as a close contact.

Read more from Mayo Clinic: How well do face masks protect against coronavirus?

Yes. In certain circumstances, the use of masks may not be reasonable, and safe alternative accommodations should be considered.
Businesses and other entities that choose to require masks should also consider disability exemptions. Refer to CDC: Disability Exemptions: Order: Wearing of face masks. Businesses and other entities should be aware that:

• People who have certain disabilities, behavioral needs, or other health, mental health, or developmental conditions may have difficulty wearing a mask or other face covering safely.
• People who have trouble breathing, are unconscious, or are unable to remove a mask without help should not wear a mask.
• Children under age 2 should not wear a mask.
• Certain situations (e.g., swimming or other activities that will soak or submerge a face covering in water) may make masks unsafe.

Additionally, you can access mask exemption forms from the Forms section of the District COVID Documents on this page.

Minnesotans with disabilities have the right to live free from discrimination. The Minnesota Human Rights Act prohibits disability discrimination in public places, employment, schools, and other areas. If you have a disability that prevents you from wearing a mask and you believe you have been discriminated against because of your disability, report the incident to Minnesota Department of Human Rights: Report Discrimination or call the Discrimination Helpline at 1-833-454-0148.
 

Should your student test positive, please contact your student’s school and report this information to the school nurse. Your student will then quarantine for 10 days from the onset of symptoms or from the test date if asymptomatic. APS affiliated household members of the individual that tests positive should quarantine for the length of time recommended on the Decision Tree:

• 14-day quarantine from the last exposure to the positive individual for household members when the positive case is able to isolate. 

• 24-day quarantine from the onset of symptoms or the positive test date if asymptomatic for household members when the positive case is unable to isolate. 

  • The 14 days for household members begin after the positive individual’s 10 day infectious period is over. 

Students will be marked absent as we want to ensure they have the time needed to recover from symptoms. Families may request work for their student from the teacher(s) if the student is feeling well enough to do school-work.

Except in certain circumstances, people who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 need to quarantine. However, the following people with recent exposure may NOT need to quarantine:

• People who have been fully vaccinated
• People who were previously diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last three months
• Masked students in the classroom when the positive case is also masked. 

Please follow the Decision Tree and notifications that are shared.

Yes, should you feel the need to quarantine due to an exposure outside of school, please do so using the recommendations on the Decision Tree.

Yes, there is an option to shorten the quarantine to 7 days. Individuals on quarantine must have a PCR test done between 5 and 7 full days after the last date of exposure to return on day 8. The results of the individual's test must be negative and they cannot have any symptoms when returning. The results of the PCR test must be shared with the school nurse to shorten the quarantine.

The stage of buildings and the district primarily impact the compulsory district events. Extracurricular activities and athletics will be dependent on the guidance set by the Minnesota State High School League. All scheduled activities are subject to change.

All students ages 5 and up are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at this time.

• Find a COVID-19 Vaccine: Search vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you. 

• Check your local pharmacy’s website to see if vaccination walk-ins or appointments are available. 

• Contact your state or local health department for more information 

Vaccines are a strong mitigation strategy to protect people from serious infection with COVID-19. Regardless of vaccination status, students will be required to follow the expectations of the current stage stated on the APS COVID Response Stages flyer.

As long as the individual identified as a close contact is not experiencing symptoms AND they have been fully vaccinated (14 days after the 2nd dose), the individual will not be required to quarantine from school and other district activities. 

The decision tree recommends that fully vaccinated close contacts monitor for symptoms for 14 days following the exposure and test 3-5 days after the exposure. 

Minnesota Department of Health Website 

CDC Website 

You can also speak directly with your child’s healthcare provider for more information on COVID-19 vaccination. 

• Because responses to close contacts have many factors (vaccination status, prior history with COVID-19, masks, etc.), please read the full notification to determine which recommendation is right for you or your child.

• Students identified as close contacts will have attendance adjusted to reflect the required quarantine period. Please call your student’s school if your student meets one of the three quarantine exemptions:

  • People who have been fully vaccinated 

  • People who were previously diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last three months 

  • Masked students in the classroom when the positive case is also masked. 

• Notify your or your child’s school/teachers if you would like schoolwork while you or your child are absent.

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 and has now been detected in almost 90 locations internationally, including in the United States and Olmsted County. Based on reports from places where it has circulated, COVID-19 presents a range of illnesses. Older people and people of all ages with severe underlying health conditions - like heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, for example, are at higher risk. Source: CDC

We employ strategic disinfectant procedures during the influenza season. The same cleaning strategies that we use to limit influenza transmission are effective in combating COVID-19. The District is reviewing our crisis plan and working to update a specific pandemic disease preparation strategy. This plan includes details about how we monitor any potential flu outbreak in a school building and the various action steps we will use to prevent the spread of illness.

In making a determination on school closures due to illness, the District would work with local partners like Mower County Health and Human Services, Minnesota Department of Health, and the Minnesota Department of Education. We are continuously monitoring how the virus is impacting our community. The District maintains a list of school-related activities and events which will be monitored for possible cancelation. School closures and activity cancellations are sent directly to families via Infinite Campus Messenger, and are posted on our official social media channels and our website.

No, Kids Korner will not run should schools be closed due to COVID-19. Parents should consider other arrangements if closure becomes necessary.

Right now, the most important actions people in our community can take to prevent illness are simple and effective. The Minnesota Department of Health indicates that following these basic good health practices is the most effective way to protect yourself and your family:

• Those who are eligible should get the COVID-19 vaccine.

• Unvaccinated individuals should test regularly for COVID-19.

• Wear a mask in public spaces.

• Keep at least 6 feet away from people from other households.

• Follow guidance on staying home (quarantine) if you or your student are exposed to someone who has COVID-19. 

• Consider getting a seasonal flu shot. It's not too late.
• Make sure to cover coughs and sneezes.
• Encourage frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Model frequent handwashing in your home and workplace.
• Keep children home from school until fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.
• Stay home from work if you are sick.
• If you plan to go to the doctor with flu-like symptoms, please call ahead so the clinic can be prepared for your arrival.

Additionally, you may take this opportunity to review your family's emergency plans. Think about backup plans for child care if school is temporarily closed or if parents, children, or a child care provider is sick. Think about necessary items to have at home, including prescription medication (check your refill dates), and non-prescription medications, such as fever-reducing medications.

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) has prepared guidance for parents to talk with their children about COVID-19.

• Read the NASP guidance in English.
• Read the NASP guidance in Spanish.

Student and staff health and safety is a top priority. We are monitoring developments closely. Public health agencies will continue to guide the District’s decision-making process as the school year progresses.

• Find a COVID-19 Vaccine: Search vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you.
• Check your local pharmacy’s website to see if vaccination walk-ins or appointments are available.
• Contact your state or local health department for more information

Public health agencies will continue to guide the District’s decision-making process as the school year progresses.  Please review more information on immunocompromised individuals and more on the CDC website.