COVID-19 Protocols

South Washington County Schools works closely with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Washington County Department of Health to determine action steps for a reported case of COVID-19. Each case is unique and public health officials will guide our response. In general:

  • If public health officials determine a case is low risk, they will not inform the district.
    • Low risk means that the specifics of a case (social distancing measures, cleanliness, types of contacts with others, when symptoms developed, etc.), is similar to walking around in public areas.
    • In low risk cases, other people do not need to isolate unless symptoms develop.
    • Multiple low risk cases in the same activity/classroom/program (e.g. a few students testing positive a couple days apart) will likely not have individual notifications if they are from the same initial source.
  • A close contact means anyone who was within six feet of the person who is sick while they were considered to be infectious (two days prior to symptoms), for 15 minutes or more throughout a 24-hour period. However, even shorter periods of time or longer distances can result in spread of the virus. 
    • These individuals must quarantine for 14 days even with a negative test result.

Communications Protocols 

Guidance from local and state health officials will determine if communications are needed to an individual, a classroom, program participants, athletics teams/pods or a whole building. The following guidelines are subject to change depending on individual cases and guidance from MDH.

 

Scenario

Risk Level*

Communication

A student, staff member or parent learns that someone from the neighborhood, a family friend or a non-household family member tested positive for COVID-19. 
  • No Risk: This is not considered a risk since it is not a direct positive case in a school building.
  • No
A person lives with or has been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. 
  • Potential Risk: The individual will be asked to stay home.
  • No

A person thinks they may have been exposed to COVID-19, or believe they are exhibiting symptoms, but they do not have test results back.
  • Potential Risk: The individual will be asked to stay home and to report their test results once received.
  • No

Building
A person tests positive for COVID-19 and they were inside a district building but it is determined that social distancing was in place and they did not have close contact. 
  • Low Risk: Generally, no one in the building is at risk unless they have been identified to be in close contact with the person.
  • No

Classroom/Spaces
A person tests positive for COVID-19 but it is determined that social distancing was in place and they did not have close contact with others in a classroom, in a child care setting, a program, district transportation or an athletics team/pod.
  • Low Risk: Individuals who practice social distancing are not at a greater risk than if they were walking around in public areas.
  • Yes, for the individuals affected in the classroom, child care setting, a program, district transportation or an athletics team/pod, though not required

A person tests positive for COVID-19 and it is determined by health officials that they had close contact with others in a classroom, in a child care setting, a program, district transportation or an athletics team/pod.
  • At Risk: Affected individuals will likely be asked to quarantine at home, but the final response will be determined by health officials
  • Yes, for the individuals affected in the classroom, child care setting, a program, district transportation or team/pod
  • Yes, for all individuals in the building/space who are not considered a close contact.

*As determined by the Minnesota Department of Health.

Please note that health data privacy applies and information may not be made available about a specific case of COVID-19.