CCS Health Protocol #1
Responding to a COVID-19 Exposure on Campus
In order to get the students, staff and families of Cambridge Christian through the school year as healthy and safely as possible, teamwork is a must. Togetherness, transparency and trust are vital in meeting this goal. While a COVID-19 exposure is possible on any school campus, the following steps will help to decrease the spread and impact of the virus.
1. Be Transparent. It is of extreme importance that the CCS community report COVID-related health events to the school nurse as promptly as possible. These types of situations include a student, teacher, or staff member that falls ill and receives a positive COVID test result themselves, as well as, anyone needing to be quarantined due to close contact with a COVID-positive person – especially if they are living in the same household. Each situation will be handled with the utmost privacy, and HIPAA laws will be maintained.
2. Coordinate a Plan of Action with Local Health Officials. If a confirmed case has been on the school campus, a member of the school’s leadership team will notify the Hillsborough County Public Health Department, Epidemiology Division and coordinate a course of action for the school. These health officials will offer guidance, help and support to ensure the proper steps are taken to keep the campus as safe as possible.
3. Be Prepared for a Short Dismissal Period. Occasionally, the Public Health Department may ask the school to dismiss a portion or all of the students and staff for a brief period of time. This is not to be alarming. This dedicated time allows the local health officials to work with the CCS Administration to gain a better understanding of the COVID-19 situation impacting the school. Students, staff and families should also be prepared that extracurricular group activities may be cancelled as well during this dismissal period.
4. Be Together but Apart. During a dismissal period, it is important for CCS families and staff members to be supportive of each other but refrain from gathering or socializing outside of the school campus until the school itself is considered “clear.” Activities such as gathering at a friend’s house, eating with classmates at a restaurant, putting a study group together, and practicing sports off campus should be suspended until further notice.
5. Constant Communication. The CCS Administration and school nurse will provide essential, thorough information in a timely manner throughout the entire process via email, social media, and the Lancer Community Page on the CCS website. Health related questions should be directed to the school nurse.
6. Disinfect Thoroughly. If the positive exposure is recent, environmental staff will wait 24 hours prior to cleaning and disinfecting all necessary areas. Any surfaces that are dirty will be cleaned with a detergent or soap prior to disinfecting. All common areas will be cleaned and disinfected as well. An EPA registered disinfectant will be used for these cleaning procedures. Together, the Hillsborough Public Health Department and the CCS Administration will deem when the campus is sanitized and safe for affected students to return after a COVID-19 exposure. Any individuals who were COVID positive or quarantined for a COVID positive exposure should refer to the CCS Policy “Returning to Campus After Having COVID-19 or Exposure to COVID-19” for further information and guidance.
CCS Health Protocol #2
Caring for Students that Fall Ill on the School Campus
Illness is a typical and common occurrence throughout the year for many. While Cambridge Christian School expects any individual feeling unwell to stay home, occasionally a person’s health may take a turn for the worse during the course of the school day. The CCS school nurse and all CCS teachers will work together in constant communication and collaboration to ensure each person receives the compassionate and skilled care that they deserve. Teachers will receive instruction on how to recognize a mild medical problem from a moderate/severe illness, how to handle a medical emergency and how to coordinate their students’ needs with the nurse. This year, specialized COVID-19 training will be provided to the staff as well.
When a student is in need of medical attention and shows NO signs of severe illness…
Headaches, allergic reactions, heat exhaustion/dehydration, bug bites, cuts, sprains and strains are just a few of the medical needs that can come up during the year. Initially, the teacher will evaluate the medical situation with which the student is presenting. Based on their training, the teacher will notify the school office that the nurse is needed to provide care. They will also communicate the location of the medical need. The nurse will personally meet with the student and further assess the situation. If it is confirmed that the student does not pose a risk of an infectious nature, the student will go to the Well Clinic for further medical care and treatment. The Upper School Well Clinic is in the same location as the former Upper School clinic. The Lower School Well Clinic is also in the same location as the former Lower School clinic. The purpose of these Well Clinics is to provide a clean medical location to bandage injuries/wounds, dispense prescribed/routine medications and handle medical issues of a non-infectious nature. Parents will receive documentation of their child’s visit as communicated by the school nurse.
**Please note, as of the 2020-21 school year, nebulizer treatments are no longer allowed on campus. These therapies are now considered “aerosolized procedures” and cannot be performed outside of a negative pressure room due to new COVID-19 standards. However, inhalers, rescue inhalers and accompanying aerochambers are permitted in school. **
When a student is in need of medical attention and shows signs of severe illness…
If, during the course of the school day, a student exhibits any of the following symptoms, the teacher
will call the school office immediately to notify the nurse that prompt evaluation is needed and where
the location of that need is. Any student that has…
• Vomiting/Diarrhea
• Abdominal/Stomach pains that are not alleviated by going to the bathroom, resting, having a
snack or a drink of water (this is often how COVID-19 initially present in children)
• Fever (greater than 100 F orally or 100.4 F temporally)
• Generalized splotchy rash or reddened/purple fingers or toes
• Complaint of severe fatigue or painful, generalized muscle aches
• Chills
• Persistent and pervasive dry cough that gets worse throughout the day
• Increasingly sore throat that prevents the student from drinking or eating
- General appearance of not feeling well or being sick
… will need to be further evaluated at the CCS Sick Clinic. This designated stand-alone area will be located in the former Clothes Closet. The purpose of the Sick Clinic is to provide a quiet place for the unwell student to be medically evaluated while limiting exposure to other students and staff. It is also a restful location for the child while waiting for family to come pick him/her up. The school nurse will also be wearing proper personal protective equipment (PPE). This includes a mask, a face shield, and gloves. Parents are expected to provide the school with viable contact numbers where they can be reached in the case of an emergency. As only one ill student can reside at a time in the Sick Clinic, it is imperative the student is taken home no later than one hour from the time the parents are notified of their illness. The Sick Clinic will be cleaned and sanitized by the school nurse as per CDC standards after each use. Parents will receive documentation of their child’s visit as communicated by the school nurse as well as a follow-up phone call.
CCS Health Protocol #3
Returning to Campus After Having COVID-19 or Exposure to COVID-19
Each person who is infected by COVID-19 will have a unique experience. All individuals, students and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19, exhibit ongoing signs of the illness or have had a known exposure to a person who is COVID-19 positive need to remain at home until the situation is deemed safe. There are many different factors to consider when bringing a student or staff member back onto the CCS campus healthy.
1. “I have a COVID-19 positive test or think I have COVID-19 symptoms…”
It is safe for you to be around others after it has been 10 days since your symptoms first appeared, all of your symptoms have improved or resolved, and the last 24 hours have been fever free with no help of fever-reducing medications (such as Tylenol, Motrin, Advil, Aleve or Aspirin). If your symptoms persist longer than this timeframe, see the situation outlined in #2.
2. “I have a COVID-19 positive test or think I have COVID-19 symptoms, but they are not going
away…”
If an individual’s COVID-19 symptoms persist or continue for more than 14 days (two weeks), a doctor’s note medically clearing the individual to return to school OR clearance from the Hillsborough County Public Health Department OR lab confirmation of a person’s negative status (two consecutive nose or throat swabs collected at least 24 hours apart) will be needed prior to coming back to campus. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), symptoms will remain mild to moderate and resolve within a two-week timeframe in approximately 80% of COVID-19 illnesses.
3. “I tested positive for COVID-19 but have no symptoms…”
You are considered an asymptomatic case. Although you feel perfectly normal and healthy, it is still possible to transmit the COVID-19 virus to others. It is safe for you to return to campus after 10 days have passed from the date of your positive test. Additionally, you must remain symptom free throughout this time period. If symptoms do develop see the situation outlined in #1.
4. “I have been around a person who tested positive for COVID-19…”
It is important to remember that anyone who has had close contact with someone with COVID-19 has the potential to develop and spread the illness themselves. As a result, you should stay home and quarantine yourself for 14 days after the LAST known exposure. For example, if you were in contact with the positive person on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday then your 14- day quarantine would start the day after Thursday’s date. While you are home during this time, separate yourself from others as much as possible. It is safe for you to return to campus after 14 days have passed and no symptoms have developed. If symptoms do develop see the situation outlined in #1.
5. “Someone in my household is positive for COVID-19 or exhibiting ongoing COVID-19
symptoms…”
A person with COVID-19 is considered contagious 48 hours before the start of their symptoms and throughout the duration of their illness. As long as their symptoms are present, the virus can be spread. Again, most people resolve these symptoms between 10 and 14 days after their illness first appears. If you continue to live in the same household with the ill individual(s), your 14-day quarantine period STARTS after the last day of illness for ANY affected household member(s). It is safe for you to be around others after this 14-day period has passed and no symptoms have developed. If symptoms do develop see the situation outlined in #1.
6. “I have a weakened immune system and am considered immunocompromised due to a health
condition or medication I take…”
If you know you are COVID-19 positive, exhibit ongoing COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with a known exposure, it is imperative to reach out to your primary health care provider or specialized medical doctor who is familiar with your needs and medical care. People with conditions that weaken their immune system might need to stay home longer than 10 days as well as may need more supportive care as they heal from the virus. It is important to work closely with your doctor throughout this time period. It is necessary to obtain a doctor’s note medically clearing your return to campus as well as any medical recommendations needed to successfully come back. If during the school year any of the above situations apply to a student or staff member, please inform the CCS School Nurse via email (daltieri@ccslancers.com) or phone (813.872.6744). HIPAA will be maintained and confidentiality kept. The school nurse serves as an excellent resource and support system for CCS families and staff going through these difficult situations. Twenty-four (24) hours prior to the intent to return to campus, all students and staff who were COVID-19 positive, exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms or quarantined due to a COVID-19 exposure need to notify the school nurse of their decision to come back to school. Working together, the school nurse will help to ensure a smooth transition back to campus for all involved.
CCS Health Protocol #4
School Wellness Screening & Campus Entry Procedures
Cambridge Christian School makes a constant commitment to keep the students, staff and families as safe and healthy as possible. This year, CCS is partnering with Base Camp Health to promote and support the overall wellness of the school campus. This partnership will help mitigate COVID-19 risks to the CCS community. Every individual coming onto campus will need to undergo a quick screening process on a daily basis to receive permission to enter the campus and onto school grounds.
Base Camp Health is a company made up of doctors, medical professionals, medical informatics, and technology specialists. Using the most up-to-date CDC guidelines, the latest Johns Hopkins research and local Tampa/Hillsborough County COVID data, the company has created an intuitive screening app with the goal of diminishing the possibility of COVID-19 exposure as much as possible.
Each CCS family and every staff member will download the ASCEND app to the mobile device of their choice. At the start of the academic year, every person will receive their own unique link to access the wellness screening. Families with multiple students will be able to manage all their children from the same app. As a part of their new morning routine, CCS students and staff will be given a one-time, daily link to a 30-second wellness screening. This screening will require the individual to record their morning temperature, the method by which the temperature was taken, and answer a few multiple-choice questions prior to completing. Upon assessment of these answers, the individual will receive either a green check mark, giving permission to enter the campus, or a red letter “X,” denying entry to the school, along with follow-up instructions for the family to complete. This wellness screening should be finished prior to arrival to the school.
During morning drop-off, faculty members will be present at all entrances. It is at this time the green check mark for each student must be shown to allow admission onto school grounds. Without this check mark, no one may enter the school premises.
The ASCEND app provides many benefits to Cambridge Christian in addition to ensuring the wellness of those attending on campus. All data is collected in real-time. This information helps CCS administration and the CCS School Nurse notice possible trends or observe potential areas in need of further monitoring on a daily basis. If a student experiences changes to their health throughout the day, the school nurse can utilize the morning wellness screening to make comparisons in temperatures or symptoms to better individualize medical care. Should CCS experience a COVID positive exposure on campus, the school can utilize the app to quickly and discreetly communicate valuable information to all potential parties involved.
Because of the utmost importance of the medical data being collected, we ask each student, family and staff member to be as honest as possible when completing their wellness screening each day. Transparency is an absolute necessity. In holding each other up and considering others’ needs as great as our own, the CCS community will stand strong in these unprecedented times.
