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Maine Dept of Education flowchart for response to ill student/staff

posted Aug 28, 2020, 10:55 AM by Bob Bradford   [ updated Aug 28, 2020, 10:55 AM ]
The Maine Department of Education has provided a flowchart to guide school staff in the steps to take if a child/staff member develops an illness while at school (last updated 7/16/20).

Summary of flowchart:

  • Students/staff who become ill with COVID-19 type symptoms during the day will report to the nurse and will be separated from others as best as possible while ensuring the safety and supervision for the sick student/staff until they have left the building. Each school will have a designated room or area that can be used for the purpose of isolating a sick student or staff member. Students who become ill at school will not be allowed to ride a district vehicle home.  Parents/caregivers will be expected to pick them up as soon as possible (within one hour). Please have an alternative plan for your child to be picked up from school if they become ill and you are unavailable. **Please list at least 2 emergency contacts on the emergency form.**

  • Students/staff sent home with symptoms outlined below and who are not recovering within 24 hours will be asked to seek evaluation from their medical provider and will need a provider note to return to school:


Two or more of the “lower risk” symptoms

OR

One of the “higher risk” symptoms

  • New headache

  • Myalgias (muscle aches)

  • Runny nose/congestion

  • Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea

  • Any of the above symptoms present beyond typical symptoms (i.e. allergies)




  • New, uncontrolled cough

  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (not  exercise induced asthma)

  • New loss of taste or smell

  • Fever (100.4 or higher), chills, rigors (shivering)

  • Sore throat


  • If a swab for COVID-19 is done and the result was negative: The student/staff must stay home until the test result is confirmed to be negative and may return to school when symptoms have improved and are afebrile (without a fever) for 24 hours without the aid of medication.

  • If the student/staff was seen by their provider and no swab was done because an alternative diagnosis was made, then they may return to school when symptoms have improved and are afebrile for 24 hours without the aid of medication.

  • If a swab for COVID-19 was done and the result was positive: The family/staff member will notify the school nurse and will follow the CDC guidelines before returning to school (updated 8/12/20). All three criteria must be met:

    • 10 days have passed since the onset of symptoms

    • 24 hours have passed with no fever (without the use of fever reducing medication).

    • Improvement of symptoms

    • If a student/staff has tested positive for COVID-19, but never had any symptoms, they may return 10 days after the positive test was taken.

    • The individual has been cleared as “recovered” by the Maine CDC

  • If the student/staff was not tested for COVID-19 and there was no alternative diagnosis made (patient/family declined, unable to obtain a test), this person may return to school when all three criteria are met:

    • 10 days have passed since the onset of symptoms

    • 24 hours have passed with no fever (without the use of fever reducing medication).

    • Improvement of symptoms


  • Responding to students/staff who test positive for COVID-19

    • Whenever a school receives information of a student or staff member who has tested positive for COVID-19, school administration will work collaboratively with the Maine CDC who will provide guidance to form an appropriate response. Contact tracing will be conducted by the Maine CDC in which close contacts will be identified and advised on how to proceed. Timely communication to parents/families regarding a positive case of a student/staff member will be guided by the Maine CDC.

    • The Maine chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Maine Department of Education have published the following infographic which answers frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19 in the school setting.

    •  The Maine Department of Health and Human Services has provided helpful guidance for if you think you have come in contact with a COVID-19 case.