Keeping You Safe: PLA Reopening Playbook August 2020 | Page 39

Wearing Cloth Face Coverings, Masks and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Employees will be required to wear PPE when directed to do so by the school’s protocol or the
employee’s supervisor. In addition, persons who are coughing or sneezing due to reasons other
than potential COVID-19 infections (allergies, etc.) may be asked to wear a cloth face covering, a
mask or other PPE while on school property to minimize dissemination of bodily fluids and may be
asked to leave. Any person is welcome to wear face coverings, masks or other PPE in the school
building unless it inhibits the person’s ability to perform his or her job, inhibits a student’s ability to
participate in the educational process or is disruptive to the educational environment.
Siblings or Other Students in the Household
If a student is excluded from school due to COVID-19 symptoms or has had a positive COVID-19
test, his or her siblings or other students living in the same household will be questioned and if
they exhibit symptoms, they will also be excluded from school. If they do not exhibit symptoms,
they may still be excluded from school and asked to self-quarantine.
Self-Quarantine
If a student or employee has recently had close contact with a person with COVID-19 symptoms
or diagnosed with COVID-19 or has recently traveled from somewhere considered to be a “hot
spot” by the CDC, the LEA may exclude the student or employee from the school building and
recommend that they self-quarantine for 14 calendar days.
School Response to Exclusion from School or Self-Quarantine
As soon as the school becomes aware of a student or employee that may have COVID-19 or that
has been excluded from school or recommended to self-quarantine, the custodial staff will be
informed so that all desks, lockers and workspaces of the person are thoroughly disinfected. If the
school is not open when notification occurs, the custodial staff will wait 24 hours or as long as
possible prior to disinfecting and instead will block off the area so that others do not have contact.
However, if that is not possible or school is in session, the cleaning will occur immediately.
Separation While in School
Each school must have a room or space where students or employees who may have COVID-19 or
another communicable disease will wait to be evaluated or for pickup. Students will be given a
mask to wear. Only essential staff and students assigned to the room may enter, all will sign in so
that there is a record of the persons who entered the room, and the room will be disinfected
several times throughout the day. Strict social distancing is required, and staff must wear
appropriate PPE. Students who are ill will be walked out of the building to their parents.
Care Rooms for Students with Physical Needs
Each school will designate a location for the care of students with special care needs such as
suctioning, tube feeding and nebulizers to minimize exposure to students who might be ill. The
room will be disinfected frequently, and all staff members present will wear appropriate PPE. The
student will be provided a mask.
Confirmed Case of COVID-19 In the School Building
When there is confirmation that a person infected with COVID-19 was in a school building, the
school will contact the local health department immediately. Unless extenuating circumstances
exist, the school will close the school building for a minimum of 2-5 days and work with the local
health department to assess factors such as the likelihood of exposure to employees and students
in the building, the number of cases in the community and other factors that will determine when
the building should re- open. 02