Information for Families

The Washington State Department of Health has released new K-12 COVID-19 requirements, effective March 12, 2022. 

Masking

Beginning March 12, face masks are optional. However, masks are required in health rooms and isolation rooms as these are considered health care settings.

Symptoms of COVID

Students or staff who have symptoms of COVID are required to stay home.

Positive COVID cases

A student or staff who tests positive for COVID-19 is required to isolate at home, regardless of vaccination status. The isolation period is 10 full days from the start of symptoms or the date of positive test. See Calculating Your Isolation Period for additional information.

The individual may return to school/care after 5 full days of isolation if:

• Their symptoms have improved or they are asymptomatic, AND
• They are without a fever for the past 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medications.

AND IF returning to school/care days 6-10, the individual is required to:

• Wear a well-fitted mask or face shield with a drape during days 6-10 of their isolation period, consistent with CDC guidance, OR
• Test negative with an antigen or at-home test any day after day 5 before returning without a mask. Testing beyond day 10 is not necessary.  The school district has tests available for students and staff.

The symptom flow chart has now been updated as well to reflect all of the changes. Updated Flowchart: COVID-19 Symptom and Exposure Flowchart for Schools and Child Care

COVID-19 testing

The district is required to make sure all staff and students have access to testing. For more details, email our health services team at covidquestions@swsdonline.com or call (360) 855-3841.

Isolation of COVID-19 cases

Students and staff who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 must be immediately isolated away from others, sent home, and referred to diagnostic testing as soon as possible regardless of vaccination status.

Any student who is identified as immunocompromised, medically fragile, or otherwise at high risk for severe COVID-19 must be notified of any potential exposure at school by the building nurse or administrator. Staff will be notified of exposure by the district’s health services team. Additionally, all staff and families will be kept informed of cases via the weekly COVID-19 dashboard. There will be no more formal contact tracing.

COVID-19 Exposure

Exposed students and staff may continue to take part in all in-person instruction and care, including sports, performing arts, and other extracurricular activities, as long as they are not symptomatic. If an exposed student, child, or staff develops symptoms, they are required to immediately isolate at home.

Regardless of vaccination status, students, children, and staff who were potentially exposed to COVID are encouraged (but not required) to:

• Monitor for symptoms, AND

• Consider wearing a well-fitted mask (if age appropriate) for 10 days after the last date of exposure, especially during activities like high-risk indoor sports, performing arts, etc., AND

• Get tested 3-5 days after their last exposure. If they test positive, they must isolate at home following current DOH and CDC isolation guidelines, regardless of vaccination status.

COVID-19 case reporting

All positive cases of COVID-19 should continue to be reported to the district’s health services team at (360) 855-3841 or by emailing covidquestions@swsdonline.com. A member of our health services team will contact any student or staff who meet notification requirements set by the DOH. They will also ensure COVID-19 cases are reported on the weekly dashboard and to the Skagit County Health District.

Other mitigations

The district will continue to put in place recommended mitigations to slow the spread of COVID-19: encouraging hand washing, cleaning high-touch surfaces, keeping two front and two rear windows in buses open, and providing good ventilation.

Testing

Beginning Nov. 29, Sedro-Woolley School District Health Services team is expanding access to timely diagnostic testing for SWSD students with symptoms of COVID-19.

The testing will be free of charge and will only be offered to ONLY students and staff showing symptoms. To schedule an appointment and complete pre-test paperwork, visit https://form.jotform.com/213156543945055. Testing will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on regular school days. All appointments will need to be scheduled, as drop-ins cannot be accommodated at this time.

We will have a drive-up, outdoor option for convenient access outside the front doors of the Admin Annex (201 N. Township, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284). Once you have filled out the paperwork online and arrived, please do the following:

• Park in the designated COVID-19 testing space located at the front of the building.

• Call 360-855-3059 to let us know you have arrived and remain inside your vehicle.

• Results take approximately 15 minutes to process and we will use the phone number given on the form to report the results back to you, as well as answer any questions you may have.

• Health Services will then report all COVID-19 results – positive and negative – within 24 hours to the Health Department using the web-based reporting tool called US Digital Service’s SimpleReport.