January 7, 2022,
Dear Odin PSD #722 Community:
We are pleased to share that the isolation and quarantine period for students and staff members sick with COVID-19 or considered a close contact has been reduced to five days.
Today, the Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois State Board of Education, and Marion County Health Department announced that the agencies have adopted CDC guidance for P-12 schools that halves the isolation and quarantine period. The Centers for Disease Control updated its guidance for P-12 schools on January 6.
As a result, effective immediately, Odin Public School District will implement the updated guidance. As soon as possible, we will contact staff, students, and families who are currently impacted by a quarantine with a revised return to school plan.
Today’s announcement does not change the state of Illinois’ mask requirement for anyone inside school buildings. The Governor’s indoor mask mandate for school is still in effect until further notice.
Staff and students who are currently impacted by a quarantine now have a revised return to school date. Please see the chart below to know when to send your child back to school.
If a student or staff member tested positive or first had symptoms on the following date: | The new return to school/work date is the following: |
Monday, 1/3 | Monday, 1/10 |
Tuesday, 1/4 | Monday, 1/10 |
Wednesday, 1/5 | Tuesday, 1/11 |
Thursday, 1/6 | Wednesday, 1/12 |
Friday, 1/7 | Thursday, 1/13 |
*Any date prior to 1/3/2022 may return on Monday, 1/10 | **The date above is if a person is fever free for 24 hours and symptoms have improved. |
Unvaccinated students and not boosted staff members who are close contacts are now required to quarantine for 5 days. The following is a table with the revised return to school dates.
If an unvaccinated student or not boosted staff member was a close contact on the following: | The new return to school/work date is the following: |
|---|---|
Monday, 1/3 | Monday, 1/10 |
Tuesday, 1/4 | Monday, 1/10 |
Wednesday, 1/5 | Tuesday, 1/11 |
Thursday, 1/6 | Wednesday, 1/12 |
Friday, 1/7 | Thursday, 1/13 |
*Any date prior to 1/3/2022 may return on Monday, 1/10 | **Test on day 5 if possible |
In addition, I want to pass along information from IDPH and CDC related to quarantine and recommended isolation periods. Below is summary information.
What is quarantine?
Quarantine means staying home for at least 5 days after exposure to someone diagnosed with COVID-19. This is because someone can be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 but may not show symptoms. Even though someone may not show symptoms, they can still spread the virus.
Quarantine is different from isolation. Isolation is used by someone who has symptoms of COVID-19, or tests positive for the virus that causes COVID-19, even if they don’t have symptoms. Isolation helps prevent the transmission of the virus by separating people infected with the virus from those who are not infected.
How do this new quarantine guidance impact staff and students if they test positive for COVID-19?
How does the new quarantine guidance impact staff and students who are considered close contacts to someone who tested positive with COVID-19?
Thank you for your continued support of our students and teachers. It’s been an incredibly difficult year, but we will continue to push forward together. If you have any questions, please call me at the school or email kbriggs@odinpublicschools.org
Sincerely,
Kimberly Briggs
Superintendent