COVID-19 Designee Toolkit
Last content update: 9/15/2022
For current California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidance for K-12 schools (updated 6/30/22) click here.
For current CDPH guidance for childcare providers and programs (updated 3/12/22) click here.
For current CDPH guidance for the use of face masks (updated 4/20/22) click here.
NOTE: In the workplace, employers are subject to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) and should consult these regulations for additional applicable requirements.
K-12 schools are encouraged to develop standard criteria for managing staff and students who develop symptoms of infectious diseases, including COVID-19.
The following guidance applies to ALL students and staff, regardless of vaccination status.
Test: Get tested right away. Antigen tests are preferred, especially for anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 90 days.
Isolate: Do not attend school. Remain in isolation while waiting for test results. If not tested, continue isolating for 10 days after the day of symptom onset. If the staff/student cannot isolate away from others at home, they should wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days when around others.
For more information, see CDPH’s Guidance for Local Health Jurisdictions on Isolation and Quarantine of the General Public or talk to your school district.
NOTE: California requires employers to provide COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave for most workers through September 30, 2022. This includes circumstances in which workers are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a medical diagnosis, attending a vaccine appointment for themselves or for a family member, and/or if a worker's child is isolating due to COVID-19 infection.
Close contact: Someone sharing the same indoor airspace, e.g., home, clinic waiting room, airplane etc., for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes) during an infected person's (laboratory-confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) infectious period.
The following guidance applies to ALL students and staff, regardless of vaccination status.
Test: All asymptomatic exposed students and staff should get tested 3-5 days after their last exposure, unless they have had COVID-19 in the last 90 days. Symptomatic contacts should isolate and get tested immediately.
Monitor symptoms: If they do not have COVID-19 symptoms, students or staff exposed to COVID-19 do NOT need to isolate. If symptoms develop, students and staff exposed to COVID-19 should stay home.
Return: Refer to the COVID-19 Decision Tree for TK-12 and Childcare (Updated 8/9/22 - | English | Spanish | Vietnamese |) for guidance on return to school. Additionally, students should follow their school district’s policies for managing exposures in school. Staff should refer to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards for additional requirements.
Mask: Staff MUST and students SHOULD mask whenever near others for a full 10 days after their exposure.
Notify: Schools are strongly recommended to use the Group Tracing Approach for notifying students of COVID-19 exposure.
For more information, refer to CDPH’s Guidance for Local Health Jurisdictions on Isolation and Quarantine of the General Public or talk to your school district.
The following guidance applies to ALL students and staff, regardless of vaccination status.
Isolate: Stay home for at least 5 days after the start of symptoms (or after date of first positive test if asymptomatic).
Test: A negative test collected on or after Day 5 is needed to end isolation. If the student/staff is unable to test or chooses not to test, or if they test positive on Days 5-10, then isolation can end AFTER Day 10 if fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
Monitor symptoms: If fever is present, isolation should continue until 24 hours after fever resolves without the use of fever-reducing medications. If other symptoms are not resolving, continue to isolate until symptoms are resolving or until Day 11.
Mask: Staff MUST and students SHOULD wear a mask when around others for a full 10 days after positive test.
Treat: If symptoms are severe, or if the infected person is at high risk of serious disease, or if they have questions concerning care, infected persons should contact their healthcare provider for available treatments.
See CDPH’s Guidance for Local Health Jurisdictions on Isolation and Quarantine of the General Public or talk to your school district for more information about how to respond to a student or staff member testing positive.
NOTE: California requires employers to provide COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave for most workers through September 30, 2022. This includes circumstances in which workers are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a medical diagnosis, attending a vaccine appointment for themselves or for a family member, and/or if a worker's child is isolating due to COVID-19 infection
Additional Resources
- Visit the County's COVID-19 and Schools/Childcare webpage for parent resources and specifics on screening, testing, reporting, and isolation in early education and TK-12 settings.
- Refer to CDPH’s Safe Schools for All Hub for key resources and information to support in-person learning in K-12 schools
- View the COVID-19 Decision Tree for TK-12 and Childcare (Updated 8/9/22 - English | Spanish | Vietnamese |)
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Return to School Letter (Updated 9/7/22 - | English | Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese | Tagalog |)
- National Association of School Nurses Recommendations for PPE
Reporting in SPOT
- Report COVID-19 in Your TK-12 Education Program
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For detailed instructions on submitting to SPOT, see the SPOT School Help and Training Material
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For technical assistance with submission of SPOT Intake Forms (e.g., login or password assistance), please contact the SPOT Help Desk at [email protected] or (916) 520-1619
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If you have additional questions about outbreaks or reporting, please email [email protected]
Quick Links
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