Responding to Illness FAQ

1. If unsure, please refer to these lists of CDC-updated Symptoms of COVID-19 in Children and Symptoms of COVID-19 in Adults.
2. Complete your One Medical Daily Check-in screener using the One Medical app before arriving at school. (See Healthy Together for more.)
3. If a red badge is received, a One Medical clinician will contact you, typically within two hours, to engage with you and determine the next best course of action. This will likely include testing and self-quarantining for a certain number of days.
4. Report your red badge to PBS:
   • For students: Email your red badge to health@phillipsbrooks.org and attendance@phillipsbrooks.org to let the school know that your child or children will not be in school that day.
   • For faculty and staff: Email your red badge to health@phillipsbrooks.org, your manager, Raveena Martin, and Lisa Boulger by 7:00 a.m. to let them know that you will not be on campus so that they can find substitute coverage for the day.
5. Report the care plan to PBS Health Office at 650-854-4545 x136 and speak with one of the Health and Wellness Team members. Follow up by emailing your care plan to health@phillipsbrooks.org.

If an ill person has a negative COVID-19 test:

1. Students, faculty, and staff may return to school post-illness one day (24 hours) after other symptoms resolve and 24 hours after fever is resolved without the use of fever reducing medicine (PRFS, p. 41).
2. Report negative test results to health@phillipsbrooks.org or 650-854-4545 x136.
   • For faculty and staff: Also upload your result to the secure submission page.

If an ill person does not get tested for COVID-19:

1. If no alternative diagnosis is identified by a healthcare provider as the cause of the person’s illness, the ill person should quarantine at home for 14 days after symptoms first appeared and at least until other symptoms are improving and fever has been resolved for 24 hours without use of fever reducing medicine
2. If an alternative respiratory diagnosis is identified by a healthcare provider as the cause of the person’s illness (e.g., positive influenza test), COVID-19 is still not ruled out. Co-infection is possible. The ill person should quarantine at home for 14 days after symptoms first appear and at least until other symptoms are improving and fever has been resolved for 24 hours without use of fever reducing medicine.

If an ill person has a positive COVID-19 test:

1. Immediately report positive test results to health@phillipsbrooks.org or 650-854-4545 x136. This information is highly confidential and is treated as sensitive information.
2. Isolate at home for 10 days after symptoms first appear or test date and at least until other symptoms are improving and fever has been resolved for 24 hours without use of fever reducing medicine (PRFS, p. 41).
3. A negative COVID-19 test and/or an accompanying doctor's note stating the person may resume school or work and other activities is required for return to campus.
4. Other members of the ill person’s household should also quarantine at home for 14 days after the date of last exposure to the COVID-19 positive contact. If additional household members become ill with COVID-19, or if the exposed person cannot avoid continued close contact, the length of quarantine may be greater than 14 days.
5. In all cases involving a confirmed case of COVID-19, San Mateo County Health may dictate the school’s responses in compliance with county and state regulations.

1. A member of faculty, staff, or the Health Coordinator will escort the student from class to the Health Office.
2. The student will be assessed. If deemed well enough to remain at school, the Health Coordinator will escort the student back to class. If not, see below:
3. If it is deemed by the Health Coordinator that the student needs to be sent home because they are too unwell or for suspected COVID-19 related symptoms:
   1. If the student has any siblings or parents on campus, they will also be sent home as a precaution.
   2. Parent or Guardian will be contacted for immediate pickup (<45mins), or an emergency contact will be reached.
   3. Student will remain in the Health Office (in isolation) with constant monitoring including visualization, access to fresh air, water, and bathroom facilities.
   4. Once the student’s parent/guardian arrives, the student will be escorted from the isolation area to the parent/guardian’s vehicle.
   5. The parent or guardian will remain in their vehicle and will call the Health Coordinator at 650-854-4545 x136 upon arrival in the carpool lane adjacent to the Administration Building.
   6. Seek immediate medical advisory and/or testing from your healthcare provider or through One Medical.
4. Report care plan to a member of our Health Team in our PBS Health Office at health@phillipsbrooks.org or 650-854-4545 x136.

If an ill child has negative COVID-19 test:

1. We will follow the same procedures as outlined if the symptoms had begun at home. (See question above.) 

If an ill child does not get tested for COVID-19:

1. We will follow the same procedures as outlined if the symptoms had begun at home. (See question above.) 

If an ill child has positive COVID-19 test:

1. We will follow the same procedures as outlined if the symptoms had begun at home. (See question above.)

2. In addition, all spaces and facilities the child was in will be closed, ventilated for 24 hours and then cleaned and disinfected in compliance with CDC recommended standards and products. See ‘What Sanitation Measures will PBS take During the Closure and/or during Operating Hours?’ for more information.

1. If they are not already home, they must return home immediately. Please contact a team member at the Health Office to arrange pickup.
2. Contact your health care provider or One Medical for professional guidance on next steps.
3. Quarantine at home for 14 days after the date of last exposure to the COVID-19 positive contact (PRFS, p. 41).
   1. A negative COVID-19 test and/or a doctor's note stating the person is clear to return to school or work and to daily activities will be required for return to school
   2. Other members of the household should also quarantine at home for 14 days after the date of last exposure to the COVID-19 positive contact. If additional household members become ill with COVID-19, or if the exposed person cannot avoid continued close contact, the length of quarantine may be greater than 14 days.

1. The PBS student or employee must return home, if they are not home already. Contact the PBS Health Office at 650-854-4545 x136 to arrange pickup, as necessary.
2. In addition to calling your county’s local health authorities and your health care provider, please contact PBS Health Office at health@phillipsbrooks.org or 650-854-4545 x136.
3. Contact your health care provider or One Medical to get healthcare consulting.
4. Members of the household should quarantine for 14 days after the date of last exposure to COVID-19 point of contact (PRFS, p. 41).
5. If additional household members become ill with COVID-19, or if the exposed person cannot avoid continued close contact, the length of quarantine may be greater than 14 days.

1. If they are not already home, they must return home and quarantine immediately.
2. In addition to contacting your county’s local health authorities, please contact a team member at PBS Health Office at health@phillipsbrooks.org or 650-854-4545 x136
3. Contact your health care provider or One Medical to get healthcare consulting on a care plan.
4. Isolate at home for 10 days after symptoms first appear or test date and at least until other symptoms are improving and fever has been resolved for 24 hours without use of fever reducing medicine (PRFS, p. 41).
5. A negative COVID-19 test and an accompanying doctor's note stating the person is clear to return to school or work and to daily activities will be required for return to campus.
6. Other household members should also quarantine at home for 14 days after the date of last exposure to the COVID-19 positive contact. If additional household members become ill with COVID-19, or if the exposed person cannot avoid continued close contact, the length of quarantine may be greater than 14 days.

The fight against COVID-19 has been a test of the balance between personal privacy and the need to coordinate testing and contact tracing. First and foremost, PBS will strictly follow current state and county regulations, as well as current legal guidance, to ensure we effectively maintain this balance. In addition, PBS has an ethical and legal obligation to safeguard the private health information of its employees and its families to the fullest extent possible, and this extends to COVID-19 testing results.

In order to facilitate effective administrative response, the Health and Wellness team or the Human Resources office will share the specifics of a known or suspected case with the Incident Command Team. This allows the school’s responses and actions to remain consistent, and the information will be treated as highly confidential and with sensitivity. Beyond that, PBS will only share information about suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 with individuals who may have come into contact with the affected individual or individuals. We will use current established best practices for contact tracing, in conjunction with state and county regulations and direction, to make the determination of who needs to be advised of a potential exposure. Two members of the PBS administrative staff are certified contract tracers. Unless it is absolutely necessary to facilitate effective contact tracing, we will not divulge the names of anyone with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19.

We anticipate that in the event of a confirmed case in our community, you may have more questions about the person or people involved; however, we will ask for utmost respect and privacy for those involved, and for you to refrain from speculation, especially with your children. PBS will provide as much information as is essential to safeguarding the community’s health and safety.

If one positive COVID case is confirmed, the affected cohort will be asked to quarantine for a minimum of 2 days. The affected cohort will transition to 100% distance learning as soon as is feasible. This initial short-term plan allows time for the local health officials to gain a better understanding of the COVID-19 situation impacting the school, as we want to make the most informed decision as to what is best for our community. This time period also allows facilities to clean and disinfect classrooms before students return to campus.

This policy is subject to change based on changes to the county’s Pandemic Recovery Framework for Schools, guidance from San Mateo County Health, directives from the California Department of Public Health, and PBS administrative discretion.

The child(ren) of the affected family member will be sent home immediately and must quarantine for 14 days. The affected cohort will be sent home and asked to quarantine for a minimum of 2 days. The affected cohort will transition to 100% distance learning as soon as is feasible. This initial short-term dismissal allows time for the local health officials to gain a better understanding of the COVID-19 situation impacting the school, as we want to make the most informed decision as to what is best for our community. This allows facilities to clean and disinfect classrooms before students return to campus.

This policy is subject to change based on changes to the county’s Pandemic Recovery Framework for Schools, guidance from San Mateo County Health, directives from the California Department of Public Health, and PBS administrative discretion.

Following current guidance from San Mateo County, PBS will not close campus in the case there is only one positive case. Affected cohorts will be immediately notified and will transition to 100% distance learning for a minimum of 2 days.

This initial short-term transition allows time for the local health officials to gain a better understanding of the COVID-19 situation impacting the school, as we want to make the most informed decision as to what is best for our community. This allows facilities to clean and disinfect classrooms before students return to campus.

This policy is subject to change based on changes to the county’s Pandemic Recovery Framework for Schools, guidance from San Mateo County Health, directives from the California Department of Public Health, and PBS administrative discretion.

An outbreak is defined by multiple COVID-19 cases in multiple cohorts at school or when at least 5 percent of the total number of students and employees are identified as cases within a 14 day period. In the event of an outbreak, campus will close and we will transition to 100% distance learning as soon as is feasible for affected or all cohorts for a minimum of 2 days. This policy is subject to change based on changes to the county’s Pandemic Recovery Framework for Schools, guidance from San Mateo County Health, directives from the California Department of Public Health, and PBS administrative discretion.

Based on available guidance from local public health officials, the PBS administration will take into account the following questions when making the decision to close in-person school for some or all cohorts. These questions include but are not limited to the following:

1. Are these cases related?
2. Are these cases within the same household?
3. Are these cases in the same cohort?
4. Was the student wearing a mask?
5. Was the student(s) maintaining 6’ physical distancing?
6. And other relevant information.

PBS will comply with CDC recommendations of Cleaning and Disinfection in Schools and the Cleaning and Disinfection Procedures Manual published by Professional Services Industries, Inc. and the San Mateo County Schools Insurance group. More on the school’s cleaning procedures can be found in the school’s Comprehensive Campus Reopening Plan.

The students and affected teacher or staff member will be sent home immediately and must quarantine for 14 days (PRFS, p. 41). The affected cohort will be sent home for a minimum of 2 days, and will transition to 100% distance learning as soon as is feasible.

This initial short-term dismissal allows time for the local health officials to gain a better understanding of the COVID-19 situation impacting the school, as we want to make the most informed decision as to what is best for our community. This allows facilities to clean and disinfect classrooms before students return to campus.

This policy is subject to change based on changes to the county’s Pandemic Recovery Framework for Schools, guidance from San Mateo County Health, directives from the California Department of Public Health, and PBS administrative discretion.

For students and their families, there is no change in response to the vaccine for the duration of the 2020–2021 academic year. The school is considering how to respond to community immunity to COVID-19 in concert with other considerations for the 2021–2022 academic year.

For employees, self-isolation or quarantine as described above is not required for employees who have met the following conditions:

• The employee received the full prescribed set of doses for a COVID-19 vaccine that has been fully approved or approved for emergency use by the FDA, adhering to the recommended time frame between doses, if applicable.

• The timing of their final dose falls within the window defined by the CDC during which the employee would not be required to quarantine after exposure to COVID-19.

• The employee has submitted a scan or photograph of their vaccination record card to the school using the secure upload link.

• The employee does not show any signs or symptoms of COVID-19.

• Quarantine is not mandated by published local, state, or federal policies or guidelines or by county health officials when consulted.