COVID-19 Updates

 

 

To: Butler County K-12 Schools
From: Erik Balster, Health Commissioner
Re: UPDATED COVID-19 Guidance for Fall Semester 2022
Date: August 12, 2022

 

On Thursday, August 11th 2022, CDC released an update to its general COVID-19 community guidance as well as its Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education (ECE) Programs.

This updated guidance can be found online at:

 

The change in guidance is due to a variety of factors including the widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccinations for nearly all ages, acquired immunity, and emerging therapeutic medical treatments have helped to significantly decrease the strain on our hospital systems and the rate of serious illness throughout Butler County and the rest of the country.

 

The Ohio Department of Health has stated to us that they are “currently reviewing and will share additional guidance as it develops.” I expect Ohio’s changes to mirror what CDC has already put out up to this point, but will be sure to pushout any further information as it becomes available.

 

The main changes to the general COVID-19 community guidance include removing the need to quarantine after exposure, regardless of vaccination status, and clarifying isolation recommendations following COVID-19 exposure or a positive test within the community, school, and ECE settings.

 

The K-12 guidance includes the general community guidance AND has been updated to remove prior recommendations for cohorting, quarantine, and Test-to-Stay measures in the K-12 school and ECE settings. As of August 11th ODH is also no longer recommending Mask to Stay/Test to Play and has issued a simpler recommendation that students stay home from school for five days when they test positive for COVID-19. The guidance for individuals who test positive for COVID-19 is the following:

 

 Those positive with COVID-19 should stay home (isolate) for 5 days.

 Infected persons (positive cases) may end isolation after 5 days, only when they are without a fever for at least 24 hours without the use of medication and all other symptoms have improved, and they should continue to wear a mask or respirator around others at home and in public through day 10.

 

As a reminder, Butler County General Health District is no longer sending out individual quarantine and isolation letters. Furthermore, BCGHD has not issued any mandates regarding COVID-19 and schools. Implementation and enforcement of the guidance is at the ability and discretion of each school district. The health department's focus and role moving forward will be primarily on outbreak situations, vaccinations, and providing assistance as needed. Please feel free to reach out to our department should you have any questions moving forward.