Important COVID Guidelines – From the Eckstein Nurse

Guidelines change often—it is to be expected as this pandemic has not been seen in over 100 years! Please be patient with me, as the nurse and the staff at Eckstein as we walk through this difficult time.

•  Keep your student home if they are sick or complain of even the Slightest issue (headache, sore throat, abdominal pain etc..) they will most likely come to see the nurse at some point during the day and she will need to send them home. We do not want to expose the student body/staff to illness, especially a virus as contagious as COVID.
• We are not doing generalized Covid testing at Eckstein. We simply do not have the staff or the needed number of tests to test all who would want. If a student is ill while at school, the nurse will the parent/guardian for consent to conduct testing. Only those students currently in class who become ill will be tested if clinically warranted.
• DO NOT send your child to the nurse to get a random test as it cannot be done. Currently, Meany Middle School is doing rapid testing for students Monday-Friday from 5:00-8:00. They are located at: 301 21st Avenue East. Seattle, WA 206.413.2100.
  Check the SPS website for other location options.
  This can change at any time so please be ready for a “plan B” if the need should arise (calling your primary care provider, rapid home test)
• If your child tests POSITIVE for Covid-19 the SPS policy as of today is as follows:

When Your Student Tests Positive for COVID

Any student with COVID-19 should isolate at home. This isolation guidance applies regardless of vaccination status. If a student tests positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a molecular or antigen test, they can return to school when the following criteria are met:

• 5 days have passed since positive test specimen collection date; the date of the test is considered DAY ZERO (0), you would then count (0, 1,2,3…5) The student can return to class on day 6; AND
• No symptoms are present, or symptoms are resolving; AND
• No fever within the past 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications.

Students should continue monitoring for symptoms and wearing a well-fitting mask.

When Your Student is Directly Exposed to COVID

• If your student is a direct contact of a known positive student/family member, the public– the SPS “QUARENTINE” policy is as follows:

Who Does Not Need to Quarantine: Students who come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 do not need to quarantine if they:

• Are ages 18 or older and have received all recommended vaccine doses, including boosters and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people.
• Are ages 5-17 years and completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.
• Had confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days.

Who MUST Quarantine:

Students who come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 should quarantine for at least 5 days (day 0 through day 5) after their last close contact with a person who has COVID-19 if they are in one of the following groups:

• Ages 18 or older and completed the primary series of recommended vaccine but have not received a recommended booster shot when eligible.
• Those who have received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine (completing the primary series) over 2 months ago and have not received a recommended booster shot.
• Those who are not vaccinated or have not completed a primary vaccine series.

As stated earlier, these policies can and will change frequently as we review the data from the Washington Department of Health and Seattle King County Department of Health. We do not necessarily follow the CDC guidelines as they come out. If you have questions, you are welcome to call and ask to speak to me directly. Please note that unless it is an urgent matter, as I am the only nurse for close to 1100 students, it may take me 24 hours to respond to your voicemail. Apologies in advance for any delay. IF you feel it is urgent to speak to me, please call the front desk and ask to speak to me.

Thank you for your attention and support. I am confident that we will get through this difficult time…together. 

Respectfully.

Enid Moore, RN, MPA

School Nurse

Eckstein Middle School