Covid-19 Response

Hartford School District COVID Response Protocols
For the start of the 2022/2023 school year, the Hartford School District will be using the infectious disease prevention strategies and COVID Response Protocol as outlined below.  Any future changes to this protocol will be communicated by the Superintendent of Schools.

COMMUNICATION
A case dashboard will be maintained HERE on the school district website to be updated weekly with total case numbers by building.

When a school learns of an individual who has tested positive for COVID, a general communication will go out notifying of a possible exposure in the affected building(s).
 
MASKING

Universal masking is no longer required in Vermont schools*.  However, there are circumstances under which an individual should wear a mask in our school buildings:

• For 10 days following a positive COVID test,
• For 10 days following exposure to someone who has tested positive, and/or
• If experiencing symptoms of illness.

Masks must be at least 2 layers, fit properly, and be worn over the mouth and nose.

It is recommended that those who are identified as being at high risk for severe disease related to COVID contact their healthcare provider to discuss whether or not they should wear a mask.

Individuals may choose to continue to wear masks for their own personal reasons outside of those listed above.  Bullying or harassment of anyone for any reason will not be tolerated in any Hartford School District building or program.

*If community transmission levels in Windsor County reach a “high” level as defined by the CDC COVID BY COUNTY, Hartford School District will require that everyone wear a face mask while indoors until transmission levels decline.
 
GUIDANCE FOLLOWING AN EXPOSURE TO COVID-19

IF YOU ARE NOT EXPERIENCING ANY SYMPTOMS:

You DO NOT need to quarantine.

• You should wear a high quality mask when around others for 10 days following the last date of exposure regardless of vaccination status.
• If you choose to, you can test on/after day 6.
  • If the test is positive, stay home and notify your school nurse.
• If you develop any symptoms, you must then stay home until symptoms improve and/or test for COVID using an antigen test.  If negative, multiple antigen tests may be needed.  If symptoms persist, you should continue to stay home and test until symptoms improve.
• It is recommended that those not up to date on their COVID vaccinations or who are unvaccinated do two antigen tests taken 24hrs apart starting no earlier than day 4 OR do an PCR test no earlier than day 5.

IF YOU HAVE HAD A CONFIRMED CASE OF COVID IN THE LAST 90 DAYS:

You do not need to quarantine or test if you don’t have symptoms.

• If you develop any symptoms, you must then stay home until symptoms improve and/or test for COVID using an antigen test.  If negative, multiple antigen tests may be needed.  If symptoms persist, you should continue to stay home and test until symptoms improve.
• You should wear a mask when around others for 10 days following the last date of exposure.

ISOLATION FOLLOWING A POSITIVE TEST
If you have a positive antigen or PCR test, let your school nurse know; they report positive cases to the VT Department of Health.  Use the following guidance regardless of vaccination status:

• Stay home and isolate for at least 5 days.
• You can end isolation after day 5 IF:
  • You never had symptoms or any symptoms are improved AND
  • You have not had a fever for 24hrs without the use of fever reducing medications AND
  • You should wear a mask around others for 10 days.
    • You can stop wearing a mask prior to day 10 if you have 2 sequential negative antigen tests taken 48hrs apart.
• Notify your close contacts that you have tested positive.
• If symptoms recur or worsen after ending isolation, restart isolation at “day 0.”

ILLNESS

If anyone, regardless of vaccination status, develops ANY symptom(s) from the list below, they must stay home.

Cough                                                  Nausea
Shortness of breath                               Vomiting
Fever                                                   Diarrhea
Sore throat                                           Loss of taste or smell
Runny/stuffy nose                                 Muscle aches
Headache                                             Fatigue

If a student or staff member develops any symptoms while at school, the school nurse will use their clinical judgment to determine if the individual may remain in school.  If it is determined that they can stay at school, a face mask will be provided and must be worn while indoors or the student will need to leave for the day.  Those individuals who need to leave for the day should be isolated from other staff and students until picked up; each school building will maintain an isolation space for this purpose.  A 2 pack antigen test kit will be provided for use at home for those who choose to test.  Individuals can return to school when their symptoms have improved and they are fever/vomiting/diarrhea free for 24hrs OR if they test negative for COVID-19 and are feeling better.  Note: if negative, multiple antigen tests may be needed so if symptoms persist or worsen, it is recommended that individuals continue to stay home and either repeat testing or wait until symptoms improve.

If a student presents to the Health Office with symptoms and has a consent for testing on file, the school nurse will use their clinical judgment to determine: 1. if antigen testing is done on site and 2.  if the student can remain in school with a negative test result or if they should still go home for the day.  If tested at school, the remaining test will be sent home.

If a student is not in attendance due to illness, a parent/guardian may request a test kit from the school.

 
TESTING

Test kits will be made available to staff and students from the school nurse upon request to test due to symptoms or following an exposure.

**Antigen test kits will be provided by the school subject to available inventory received from the state of Vermont. 

• CDC Operational Guidance for Schools 
• VT AOE Memo:  School Sickness Policy Considerations and Testing Fall 2022
• VT Department of Health: COVID-19
• HSD COVID Notification For Possible School Exposures Fall 2022

Thank you and please do not hesitate to reach out to me or your school nurse if you have questions or concerns. 

Tom DeBalsi

Superintendent

It’s hard having a sick kid, but it’s important to keep them home from school until they get better. Get them tested if they have any COVID symptoms, may be a close contact, or have taken part in activities that could put them at risk. http://healthvermont.gov/testing

Here are some local sites that offer COVID testing for FREE:

• DHMC COVID hotline number (603-650-1818) for information
• Alice Peck Day Hospital  (603-442-5665)    https://www.alicepeckday.org/services/covid19communitytesting
• VT Health Department https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/testing/where-get-tested  (the fire station in Fairlee, VT is the closest location of the Vermont Health Department testing sites -- they accept walk-ins or you can make an appointment on the website; their hours are Mon,Wed,Thur, Sat, & Sun 9 AM - Noon and Tues & Fri 4 PM - 6 PM)
• Mt. Ascutney Hospital  (802-674-7300, option 4)
• Gifford Hospital (802-728-7000)
• Valley Regional Hospital (603-542-7771, M-F 11 AM - 5 PM)

Vaccination Information

Please do not hesitate to contact Superintendent DeBalsi or one of the district's COVID Coordinators with any questions.