COVID Update - January 20, 2022
Greenback Family,
Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) extended some guidance from the CDC to school children. I will hit the high points and we have a more detailed information letter on our website under the Covid-19 tab.
Students who are Covid-19 positive, and asymptomatic for at least 24 hours, may return to school and activities after 5 days from the first documentable symptoms or a positive test. With this change, a student cannot return until being symptom free for 24 hours, so that can, of course, extend the 5 days. Upon return, a student must wear a well-fitting mask for days 6-10 in order to attend school and participate in activities.
We have a test-to-stay program for students labeled as a household contact and asymptomatic; details on the program and the consent form are available through each school office and the website. Symptomatic students may also take advantage of the test-to-stay program to allow for an earlier return after being symptom free; please see our website for information regarding testing protocols. It is important for symptomatic students and staff to stay home. Please call the appropriate school office for any needed clarification for varying circumstances. We will continue our testing program as long as we have available supplies. Inventory reports indicate that supplies are running low and hospitals, health departments, and schools may not always have the necessary tests available.
Staffing our schools and buses is still our biggest challenge for staying open. We are monitoring our internal numbers and assessing the need to require higher-risk staff to mask in order to increase our likelihood of being able to stay open. We are in the choppiest waves we have experienced thus far in the pandemic, but our staff continues to make adjustments and row the boat.
Hearing from healthcare officials in the Kansas, our community, state, and region are facing the steepest challenge to date to continue to provide critical healthcare services for all health needs, including Covid cases. It is still about pushing the curve down enough to allow healthcare to function successfully. If you know someone in healthcare, please give them your support because they are on the frontline and we need them to know we appreciate what they are doing for us.
Respectfully,
Tony Helfrich
Superintendent
Pratt Schools USD 382
