Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. is considering new quarantine guidelines from the state but will stick with its current protocols for now.
Gov. Eric Holcomb signed an executive order Wednesday on the COVID-19 response, directing the Indiana Department of Health commissioner to modify quarantine guidance for close contacts in schools under certain circumstances.
Per the state’s new control measures, at K-12 schools that have and “consistently enforce” a mask requirement for all individuals, close contacts are not required to quarantine as long as they are asymptomatic.
“Any symptoms of COVID-19 must prompt immediate removal of the symptomatic individual from the school environment,” the control measures state. “The individual should seek testing and isolate.”
BCSC officials said in a statement Thursday that, at this time, they will continue their current protocols “with any changes deemed appropriate announced as soon as is feasible.”
The school corporation is meeting with local health officials and district leadership to discuss their options. They are also waiting for more details on potential changes from the state department of health.
At present, BCSC’s reopening plan states contact tracing entails a 10-day quarantine, except for those who are fully vaccinated and have no symptoms.
If BCSC were to move to quarantine protocols that reflect the state’s new allowances, the change would only apply to classrooms. According to the department of health’s control measures, asymptomatic close contacts in non-classroom settings (such as athletics and extracurriculars) must quarantine unless they are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 within the last 90 days.
The control measure adds that for individuals who are close contacts but not required to quarantine, the school should still send home notice of their contact status and instructions on reporting symptoms if they occur.
“Schools and day cares must continue to contact trace by notifying their local health department as well as parents, teachers and staff who were in close contact,” said the governor’s office.
