POSITIVE TEST RESULT

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 must self-isolate. Parents/guardians should report a positive test result, including an at-home test, to their child’s childcare facility. Employees of a childcare facility should also report a positive test to management.

Isolation:

• Those who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate at home for at least 5 days.
  • The date of symptom onset (or the test date, if asymptomatic) is considered Day 0.
  • Day 1 is the first full day after symptoms begin (or the first full day after the test date, if asymptomatic).
  • Isolate at least through Day 5.
• Isolation may end after Day 5 (returning to care/other activities on Day 6) if:
  • Fever-free for at least 24 hours (without using medications), and
  • Symptoms are improving. Note that some mild symptoms may remain.
• When returning to daily activities on Day 6 or later, the individual must wear a well-fitting mask at all times while around others in public.
  • A mask should be worn in public through Day 10. 
  • As this may be difficult for children in a childcare facility (and children under 2 years should not wear a mask), management may decide to implement a policy requiring an individual be excluded for 10 full days following a positive test.
  • Facilities may set policies that specify longer (but not shorter) isolation periods. Families and employees should follow their facility’s policies and procedures for returning following a positive COVID-19 test.
• See the latest guidance for more details:
  • Quarantine and Isolation Guidance | CDC
  • COVID-19: Diagnosed | WI DHS

When a Positive Test Result is Received:

• Request proof of the test result and gather relevant information about the individual who tested positive, including:
  • When their symptoms began (or if they are asymptomatic)
  • When they were last in the facility
  • Individuals with whom they may have recently been in contact.
• Review the individual’s activities during their infectious period, the two days prior to symptom onset (or if asymptomatic, the two days prior to the test collection).
• Determine if any individuals in the facility meet the definition of a close contact:
  • Spending a cumulative 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour period within 6 feet of the infected person during their infectious period, or
  • Having direct contact with the infected person during their infectious period.
• Notify close contacts of their exposure. In a childcare facility, this may be a large number of children and staff due to the type of care and activities taking place.
• While close contacts generally do not need to quarantine any longer, they should be notified so they can mask, watch for symptoms, and seek a test as appropriate.

At-Home Tests:

• You can and should exclude children and staff based on a positive at-home test result.
• Negative at-home test results should not be used to allow an individual to return (either from isolation or quarantine).
• Individuals are not exempt from isolation after a repeat positive result (within 90 days of a previous positive) if their initial positive test was only an at-home test and not confirmed by a second test from a health care provider or testing site.
• Read more about at-home tests in the WI DHS At-Home COVID-19 Tests fact sheet.

Outbreak or Significant Increase in Cases:

• If your facility experiences a suspected outbreak (two or more cases which are linked through close contact) or large increase in COVID-19 cases or illness in general, please reach out to the City of Racine Public Health Department.
• Contact us at [email protected] or call 262-636-9201. Select Option 1 or 2 (for English or Spanish, respectively) and then Option 5. Leave a message if your call is not answered.
• When contacting us, provide the following:
  • Facility name and location,
  • Best contact person and their contact information,
  • Number of ill and exposed children, staff, visitors, etc., and
  • Other relevant information based on your facility.

IMPORTANT:
Due to alterations in COVID-19 disease investigation and contact tracing protocols, all individuals will not be contacted after a positive test or notice of close contact. It is essential that childcare facilities exclude those who are ill or test positive.

Childcare facilities should not require employees or families to have documentation or a release letter from the Public Health Department for returning to work/care. Facilities also should not require those who test positive  to provide a negative test result prior to returning to work; instead, follow the guidance above.

EXPOSURES

Determine Who is a Close Contact:

• A close contact is someone who meets one of the following criteria:
  • Spending a cumulative 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour period within 6 feet of someone with COVID-19 during their infectious period (the two days prior to symptom onset or the test date, if asymptomatic), or
  • Having direct contact with the infected person during their infectious period.

Next Steps:

• Notify staff members and families of children who, per the above guidance, would be considered a close contact exposed to COVID-19.
  • Do not release any information about the individual who tested positive (including whether it was a child or staff member).
  • Inform of the exposure and the need for their child/children to wear a mask in the facility and elsewhere in public for 10 days from the exposure (or if facility policy dictates, that the child must be excluded due to inability to properly mask).
  • Inform of the need to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and seek a test on Day 6 or later following exposure.
  • Request that they notify the facility if their child develops symptoms or tests positive.
  • Refer them to this website and the resources below for additional information.
• Consider closure of affected classrooms, additional targeted cleaning, and reinforcing mask usage and hand hygiene in the facility to limit further spread or in the event of an outbreak.

IMPORTANT:
Due to recent alterations to COVID-19 disease investigation and contact tracing protocols, all individuals will not be contacted by the Public Health Department after a positive test or notice of exposure. It is essential that childcare facilities notify those who are exposed in order to stop further spread of disease.

Childcare facilities also should not require families or employees to have documentation or a release letter from the Public Health Department for returning to the facility; instead, follow the guidance above.

RESOURCES

Additional information about COVID-19:

• COVID-19: Child Care Providers | WI DHS
• COVID-19 Guidance for Operating Early Care and Education/Child Care Programs | CDC
• COVID-19 Vaccine Info | City of Racine
• COVID-19 Testing Info | City of Racine
• Quarantine and Isolation Guidance | City of Racine
• Quarantine and Isolation | CDC
• Stay Up to Date with Your Vaccines | CDC
• COVID-19: Diagnosed | WI DHS
• COVID-19: Close Contacts | WI DHS
• WI DHS Fact Sheets:
  • Isolation and Quarantine
  • How Long Should I Quarantine?
  • How Long Should I Isolate?
  • COVID-19 Testing: What to Know
  • At-Home COVID-19 Tests
  • COVID-19 Antigen Testing Guidance
• Self-Testing | CDC
• COVID-19 | OSHA
• Vaccine Guidance for All Businesses | WEDC