Frequently Asked Questions Quick Links
Covid-19 Safety Protocols
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Covid-19 Safety Protocols
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Will temperatures be checked before entering a school or office?
Starting in August 2021, temperature checks will not be implemented at schools and District sites. Parents and students are required to complete symptom screening at home. There is a secondary check at the school site.
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What happens if my child has to quarantine? Will my child continue with their learning?
While a child has to quarantine, they will continue their learning with the curriculum currently used by the class or teacher using the Canvas platform. Every effort will be made to ensure the continuity of learning.
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What happens if an employee or student tests positive for the virus?
An employee or parent should notify the school of a positive test result and then school staff will provide the individual with isolation instructions. The school will also contact household members, coworkers, and students who may have been in contact with the individual who tested positive to provide quarantine instructions and refer them for a COVID-19 test site. Details of the case and the list of those exposed will be referred to the Pasadena Public Health Department which may conduct further contact tracing.
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What isolation instructions will be given if an employee or student tests positive?
If a student or staff tests positive the following instructions will be given:
- Stay home until at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared and there is no fever for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication). Symptoms such as shortness of breath and cough should also improve before going back to a school site.
- Anyone who has a condition that severely weakens the immune system may need to stay home for longer than 10 days. Consult with your healthcare provider.
- After completing the isolation period and receiving clearance from your school, students/employees should return to work or school.
If a student or staff tests positive but does not have symptoms, they still must stay home for 10 days after the positive test result. The date of exposure or test date (not date of receiving test result) is day 0, day 1 starts the first day or isolation or quarantine. After completing the isolation period and receiving clearance to return to campus, students/employees should return to work or school.
Employees and students who have tested positive for COVID-19 and completed their isolation period should not take another COVID-19 test for 90 days because of the possibility of a false-positive result. An individual who has recovered from COVID-19 may have low levels of virus in their bodies for up to 3 months and may continue to test positive although they are not contagious. -
Does an employee or student who tested positive need to take another test before returning to work or school?
Employees and students who have tested positive for COVID-19 and completed their isolation period should not take another COVID-19 test for 90 days because of the possibility of a false-positive result. An individual who has recovered from COVID-19 may have low levels of virus in their bodies for up to 3 months and may continue to test positive although they are not contagious. After completing the isolation period and receiving clearance from Human Resources, students/employees should return to work or school.
More information is available here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/end-home-isolation.html -
Will schools be cleaned more often?
Yes, high touch areas will be cleaned several times per day. Classrooms and offices are fogged each evening. Air conditioning filters have been upgraded and each classroom and office space has a commercial grade air purifier. Personal protective equipment is provided to all individuals on the campus or in a classroom. As additional safety practices are shown to be effective and appropriate for schools, Pasadena Unified will incorporate those practices as well.
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What is the distinction between isolation and quarantine?
Health authorities require those who have tested positive for COVID-19 to complete an “isolation” period; those who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and do not have symptoms of COVID-19 must complete a “quarantine” period. In practice, isolation and quarantine both mean to stay home and stay separated from others who have not been exposed to COVID-19.
More information is available at these websites:
https://www.cityofpasadena.net/public-health/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/Home-Isolation-Instructions.pdf
https://www.cityofpasadena.net/public-health/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/Pasadena-Health-Officer-Blanket-Quarantine-Order.pdf -
What should I do if I or anyone in my household has COVID-19 like symptoms?
If you or anyone in your household has COVID-19 symptoms, it is important to contact your healthcare provider and schedule a COVID-19 test. The person with symptoms should self-quarantine pending the test results because COVID-19 is very contagious. That individual should also separate themselves from everyone in their household, so they do not transmit the virus to any family members in the home. They should wear a mask and socially distance themselves if they must be in the same room as a household member. Follow hand hygiene recommendations and avoid sharing any personal items.
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What should an employee do if a member of their household tests positive?
That person should follow the home isolation or home quarantine guidelines from the Pasadena and Los Angeles County Departments of Public Health, depending on whether or not they have symptoms. More information is available at these websites:
https://www.cityofpasadena.net/public-health/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/Home-Isolation-Instructions.pdf
https://www.cityofpasadena.net/public-health/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/Pasadena-Health-Officer-Blanket-Quarantine-Order.pdf -
What is the quarantine policy for students or staff considered a "close contact" to someone who tested positive for the virus?
All quarantine situations are unique. Students and staff who are considered “close contacts” to a positive case (within six feet for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period or had unprotected contact with their bodily fluids) will receive different quarantine guidelines depending on their vaccination status, potential symptoms, and recent recovery from a confirmed case of COVID.
Vaccinated students and staff who are identified as a close contact and are asymptomatic will not be required to quarantine, but should test 3 - 5 days after the exposure, as a precaution. Unvaccinated students and staff who are identified as close contacts must quarantine even if they are asymptomatic. All close contacts should monitor symptoms through day 14. The date of exposure or positive case (not test result) is day 0, day 1 starts the first day or isolation or quarantine. -
What should I do if my child or I are in close contact with someone suspected of being positive for COVID-19?
If there are household members of suspected COVID-19 cases who are unvaccinated, they should self-quarantine and monitor for symptoms. It is recommended that even if they are asymptomatic, they should test after day 5 and wait until test results are available. For unvaccinated individuals, it is important to separate them from other people in a household even if they do not have any symptoms.
If the household member is vaccinated, they do not need to quarantine if they do not experience any symptoms.
If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, you should call your healthcare provider immediately and make arrangements to be tested for COVID-19. If your household member’s test comes back negative and you are symptom free, you can discontinue self-quarantine. -
Do household members of close contacts have to take the same precautions?
No, household members of identified close contacts do not have to isolate themselves at home. They should monitor for symptoms and can test after the fifth day of their household member’s being identified as a close contact.
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Do vaccinated students without symptoms have to quarantine with their class?
Vaccinated students and employees are not required to quarantine if they are asymptomatic. They should test 3 - 5 days after the exposure, as a precaution.
If the vaccinated student or employee develop symptoms, they should quarantine for 10 days and until their symptoms improve. They are encouraged to test for COVID-19. -
What determines if a class will close or a school will close because of an outbreak?
The Pasadena Department of Public Health will conduct an investigation and make a determination if a school or class should close due to an outbreak.
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What is a “close contact” to a case and what does it mean to be a close contact?
A close contact is any person who was within 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes within a 24-hour period. If you are a close contact of a known positive case, your school will contact you to provide you with the latest quarantine and isolation guidelines.
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Will I know about an outbreak in my student's school?
To see positive cases at a school site, families can access their school’s COVID information at the Pasadena Unified Dashboard.
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I was tested for COVID-19 at a non-PUSD site, and tested positive. What should I do?
As per Pasadena Department of Public Health reporting requirements, if you test positive at a COVID-19 testing site outside the PUSD testing program, you should notify your school principal or supervisor that you will not report to work or school for 10 days from the date of your test or according to your healthcare provider’s instructions. The date of your test is day 0, day 1 of quarantine is the day following the test date or date of close contact. You should self- isolate according to the Pasadena Public Health Department’s guidelines and follow your healthcare provider’s instructions.
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What is considered the first day of quarantine?
Day 0 is the date of the positive test (not the date of the test result), or the date of exposure. Day 1 is the first day of isolation or quarantine following the date of the test or date of exposure.
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If the information you require is not provided, please send your question to superintendent@pusd.us.