A Cedar Bluffs Public Schools parent sent their children to school last week despite carrying a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, according to Superintendent Harlan Ptomey.
The action forced some individuals to quarantine, but has not resulted in any additional positive tests for the school. According to Ptomey’s latest update, 27 staff and students are currently in quarantine.
Ptomey said he was frustrated by the parent’s decision, but chalked up the incident to confusion about the amount of time required to isolate after a positive test.
“I think it was more confusion from everybody’s standpoint to try and communicate that and try over and over and over to make them understand what the process is and then being able to communicate with each other,” he told the Tribune.
Ptomey pointed to recent Center for Disease Control guideline changes that differentiate between the amount of time needed to stay at home during a quarantine and isolation.
Ptomey said those asked to quarantine might only need to self-isolate for five days before receiving a test and ultimately returning to the classroom. For those in isolation following a positive diagnosis, that timeframe increases to a minimum of 10 days before a potential return.
The school also asks parents to provide documentation of a negative test before their children return to the classroom. Ptomey said that wasn’t the case with this incident.
“We don’t allow kids to come back without seeing their tests, either,” he said. “Some parents don’t provide that and so we only knew this person was positive because the kid was telling everybody else. Then we had to contact the parent rather than the parent contacting us.”
Ptomey said the situation is a lesson for both administration at CBPS and parents on communication.
“We all need to communicate better and understand the process of how to quarantine and how to isolate and that there is a difference between the two,” he said.
Quarantine and isolation 101
Quarantine or isolation: What's the difference?
Quarantine keeps someone who might have been exposed to the virus away from others.
Isolation keeps someone who is infected with the virus away from others, even in their own household.
Quarantine 101:
Who needs to quarantine?
People who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19.
What is a close contact?
- You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset or, for asymptomatic individuals, 2 days prior to test specimen collection until the person with COVID is isolated.
- You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19.
- You had direct physical contact with the person, such as hugging or kissing.
- You shared eating or drinking utensils.
- They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you.
When to start and end quarantine?
You should stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19.
Do you need to restart your quarantine if another member of your household gets sick with COVID-19?
Yes, you have to restart your 14-day quarantine from the last day you had close contact with anyone in your house who has COVID-19.
What if you live with someone who has COVID-19 and cannot avoid continued close contact with them during their illness?
You should quarantine for 14 days after the person who has COVID-19 meets CDC criteria to end home isolation.
Isolation 101:
Who needs to isolate?
People who have COVID-19 -- both those with symptoms of COVID-19 and those who have no symptoms but have tested positive.
How do you isolate?
- Stay home except you need to go out to get medical care, for emergency warning signs, such as trouble breathing.
- Wear a mask if you must be around other people.
- Avoid all contact with other members of the household, including pets, and stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom, if possible.
- Do not share personal items, such as cups, towels, and utensils.
When you can be around others after you had or likely had COVID-19?
For symptomatic individuals: At least 10 days since symptoms first appeared and at least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medication and other symptoms are improving. Note: loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation.
For asymptomatic individuals: If you continue to have no symptoms, after 10 days have passed since the date of your positive test.
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