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Updated KSDE and KDHE Guidance

We hope the long weekend went well for you and your families. The extended weekend provided our staff with some relief. We appreciate your understanding and grace. In an effort to keep you informed, we wanted to share some new information with you and how it will impact our procedures regarding COVID testing and contact tracing moving forward.

 

Earlier this morning, KSDE and KDHE met with Kansas Superintendents to share their unified guidance regarding COVID-19. Beginning today, Tuesday, January 18, 2022, there will be a temporary pause on close contact tracing. KSDE and KDHE will reevaluate this decision in 30 days. 

 

The updated guidance from KSDE and KDHE was shared with Board members today at a Special Board Meeting. Due to the widespread transmission and exposure for those in public spaces, contact tracing has become unmanageable. After discussion, the Board approved the temporary suspension of contact tracing for 30 days. As a result, Eudora Schools will not test healthy students, considered close contacts. We will only test those who become symptomatic while at school or work, or those coming back to school or work following five (5) days of isolation.

 

What does this mean for families?

  • Continue to monitor for symptoms and notify others if your student tests positive. 
  • If symptomatic, or not feeling well, please keep your student home.
  • If your student tests positive, they are to isolate until fever-free without fever-reducing medications and symptom-free. 
  • Those who are isolating may return to school or work, after five (5) days, if fever-free and symptom-free. Per Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health, a negative test result from a testing site will be required before returning to school or work after day five (5).
    • Negative antigen tests, also referred to as rapid tests, are now allowable.
  • Those wishing to isolate for ten (10) days may return to school or work without a test if they are fever-free without fever-reducing medication and are symptom-free.

 

As we have been accustomed to in recent years, this pandemic has required all of us to remain flexible while dealing with changes in a short matter of time. We hope that this information comes to you with time to begin processing the most recent changes. Please know the current LDCPH mask order is still in place through February 9, 2022. We will host a Q &A Facebook Live event tonight at 7:00 pm. Thank you for your continued support and understanding.