POSITIVE TEST RESULT

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 must isolate. Parents/guardians should report a positive test result, including an at-home test, to their child/children’s school. Teachers and other school staff should also report a positive test to school administration.

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 school/other activities on Day 6) if the individual is:
  • 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 it is difficult for children to mask at all times in a school setting, administration may decide to require an individual be excluded for 10 full days following a positive test.
  • Schools may set policies that require longer (but not shorter) isolation periods.
  • Families and employees must follow their school’s policies and procedures for returning following a positive COVID-19 test.
• See the latest guidance for more details:
  • Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19 | CDC
  • COVID-19: Diagnosed | WI DHS

When a Positive Test Result is Received:

• Exclude the individual per school policy and guidance above.
• Gather relevant information about the individual who tested positive, including:
  • When symptoms began (or if they are asymptomatic), and
  • When they were last in the building.
• Report this information to the Public Health Department at [email protected] or through another method that has been previously established (such as Google Sheets).
• 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 school 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 all close contacts of their exposure.
  • See Close Contacts below for more information.

At-Home Tests:

• You can and should exclude students 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 school 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, reach out to the Public Health Department 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:
  • School name and location,
  • Best contact person and their contact information,
  • Number of ill and exposed students, staff, etc., and
  • Other relevant information based on your school.

IMPORTANT:
Due to alterations in COVID-19 disease investigation and contact tracing protocols, individuals will not be contacted by the Public Health Department after a positive test or notice of close contact. It is essential that schools exclude those who are ill or test positive while also notifying those who are exposed.

Schools should not require employees or students to have documentation or a release letter from the Public Health Department for returning to work/school. Schools also should not require those who tested positive for COVID-19 to provide a negative test result prior to returning; 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.
  • NOTE: For students in an indoor classroom setting or a structured outdoor setting where masks are being used by both parties, the distance to be considered a close contact is reduced to 3 feet. This does not apply to teachers, staff, or other adults in a classroom setting. See Page 17 of the WI DHS School Toolkit for more information.

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 student 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 school 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 school 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 building to limit further spread.

IMPORTANT:

Due to alterations in COVID-19 disease investigation and contact tracing protocols, individuals will not be contacted by the Public Health Department following COVID-19 exposure. It is essential that schools close contacts of exposures.

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

RESOURCES

Additional information about COVID-19:

• Guidelines for the Prevention, Investigation, and Control of COVID-19 in K-12 Schools in Wisconsin | WI DHS
• COVID-19: K-12 Schools | WI DHS
• Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools | CDC
• Toolkit for Responding to COVID-19 Cases | 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