Contact Tracing, Quarantine, Isolation

Contact Tracing
Loyola Academy’s contact tracing strategy is integral to keeping our entire community safe and healthy. Once our school nurse is made aware of a potential exposure or positive test result, she immediately notifies the appropriate health department then begins to identify high-risk or close contacts. Our team of nurses will provide timely notification and offer guidance on quarantining or self-isolating to prevent further transmission. Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the identity of any individual who tests positive is strictly confidential.

It is imperative that you share any COVID-19 related exposures and positive test results with our school nurse, Mrs. Corry Braasch at cbraasch@loy.org.

Our contact tracing strategy allows our nurses to:

• thoroughly identify all high-risk or close contacts (this includes students who according to seating charts were within 6 feet of the infected individual)
• Send timely email notifications to a parent and student to help prevent further transmission
• Provide information regarding quarantine or isolation procedures

Contact Tracing Procedure Overview

• If you test positive for COVID-19, a nurse will contact you to ask questions and help identify any close contacts within our school community. (Please note, you will also be contacted by the appropriate health department will conduct additional contact tracing).
• Vaccinated individuals or individuals who can show proof of a positive COVID test within 90 days of the date of exposure do not have to quarantine, as long as they remain asymptomatic.
• Unvaccinated individuals are required to quarantine for five days.
• School personnel will check in with those in quarantine or isolation to monitor their health and provide referrals for any additional resources or support they may need.

Testing of Close Contacts
Close contacts should notify their personal health care provider for additional information on testing, quarantine and isolation.

Quarantine
Quarantining separates and restricts the movement of people who have been exposed to COVID-19 to allow for symptom monitoring. While in quarantine, people should remain in their house and not have contact with anyone outside of their household.

According to the CDC, close contact means:

• You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes
• You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
• You had direct physical contact with the person (touched, hugged or kissed them)
• You shared eating or drinking utensils
• They sneezed, coughed or somehow got respiratory droplets on you

Isolation

Isolation separates people who are contagious from those that are not sick. While isolating, you should separate yourself from anyone within your household as much as possible. Wearing a mask while in your house is recommended.

What should I do if I am told to quarantine?

• Quarantine at home for five days of last exposure regardless of test results. Restart the five day quarantine if there is continued exposure to same positive individual. If a new household member tests positive with COVID-19 and you had close contact, restart the five day quarantine. Continue strict mask wearing for an additional five days.
• If COVID symptoms develop during the five day quarantine, quarantine for an additional five days from the start of the symptoms.
• Follow all instructions from the Cook County Department of Public Health. They will notify you within 48 hours after receiving notification from Loyola Academy.
• Visit the CDC website for more information.

What should I do when my quarantine is over?

• You must email your "Release from Isolation" or "Release from Quarantine" letter that you receive from your local health department OR a note from your physician to Mrs. Braasch at cbraasch@loy.org. You can NOT return to school/cocurricular activities until this letter or note is received by Loyola Academy.

What do I do if someone in my household tests positive for COVID-19?

• Every unvaccinated family member in the same household must quarantine five days from the last day of exposure to the individual who tested positive.
• Vaccinated individuals or individuals who can show proof of a positive COVID test within 90 days of the date exposed do not have to quarantine, even if a household family member tests positive as long as they remain asymptomatic.
• The individual who tested positive for COVID-19 must be isolated from the rest of the family members in his or her own room or space.
• Notify our school nurse Mrs. Braasch at cbraasch@loy.org about any exposure to a positive case at home.