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COVID-19 Information

August 28, 2023 - California Department of Public Health (CDPH) 
Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools and Child Care Settings to Support Safe In-Person Services and Mitigate the Spread of Communicable Diseases, 2023-2024 School Year K-12 Guidance 2023-24 School Year (ca.gov)
 
August 25, 2023 - Orange County Health Care Agency (CDPH) 
COUNTY OF ORANGE HEALTH OFFICER'S
STRONG RECOMMENDATIONS AND ORDERS
(Revised August 25, 2023)
 
May 11, 2023 - The White House ends the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency 
This date marks the end of the federal COVID-19 PHE declaration by the President on January 31, 2020 for the public health emergency and the national emergency that was declared in March of 2020. 
 
March 24, 2023 - Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA)
In light of the recent COVID-19 related guidance and orders by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the State Public Health Officer, the following Orders and Strong Recommendations shall revise and replace the prior Orders and Strong Recommendations of the County Health Officer that were issued on September 23, 2022. The Orders and Strong Recommendations issued on September 23, 2022, are no longer in effect as of March 24, 2023.
 
March 10, 2023 – Latest Covid guidance in effect Monday, March 13, 2023
Students are recommended to isolate for a minimum of 5 days from the 1st date of symptoms when testing positive for Covid and can now return on Day 6 regardless of having a negative test, as long as they’re feeling well, have improving symptoms and are fever-free for 24 hours. Additionally, after ending isolation, persons may remove their mask sooner than Day 10, with two sequential negative tests one day apart. 
 
August 11, 2022 – Announcement made by the CDC
The CDC announced loosened guidelines and restrictions. (see link below in Health Resources) The primary change impacting schools is when testing positive for Covid students can come out of isolation after 5 days on day 6 regardless of having a negative test. You should wear a mask through day 10 and you can discontinue wearing a mask with 2 negative tests. 
 
June 30, 2022 – Announcement made by Orange County Health Care Agency
Effective July 1, 2022, all individual student Covid-19 case reporting to the county is no longer required. Schools are still required, as with other communicable diseases, to report outbreaks. The current definition of a COVID-19 outbreak is; 3 or more cases within a group (e.g. classroom, team, activity group) that test COVID-19 positive within 14 days.
 
February 28, 2022 – Announcement made by Governor Gavin Newsom
In California beginning March 12th in schools and childcare facilities, masks will not be required but will be strongly recommended. It was also announced that starting March 1, masks will no longer be required for unvaccinated individuals, but will be strongly recommended for all individuals in most indoor settings (this excludes schools). As always, local jurisdictions may have additional requirements beyond the state guidance. Click here for the press release: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/02/28/governors-newsom-brown-and-inslee-announce-updated-health-guidance/ 

CURRENT STATUS

At MDHS the Health & Safety protocols have several mitigation strategies to limit exposure risk to students as outlined below:
  • Masks are available in classrooms and all areas on campus to students, staff, and visitors
  • Hand hygiene is reinforced in classrooms and across the campus
  • Classrooms are cleaned daily
 
MDHS continues to follow guidelines from the CDC, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA). and the directives of the Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Diocese of Orange in all COVID related Health and Safety measures.
QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION GUIDANCE
 
Isolation:  Strong recommendation to isolate for 5 days after testing positive for Covid and to return on Day 6 wearing a mask through Day 10.  When testing negative twice you can discontinue wearing a mask. 
 
Quarantine: There is no quarantine required for being exposed to a person testing positive for Covid regardless of vaccination status. 
COVID-19 SYMPTOMS - Symptoms of COVID-19 | CDC

 

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms.

Possible symptoms include:
  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
 
COVID RELATED ABSENCES
 
Covid related absences will be excused through the attendance office. A doctor’s note is not required for exposures, quarantine or positive cases.
  
Please call attendance: 
To report a student’s absence due to quarantine – it is not necessary to call in each day.  
 
Please contact the health office: 
To report a positive Covid case use the Covid Positive Reporting Form below. 
COVID-19 POSITIVE CASE REPORTING
 
If you test positive for COVID-19 and have been associated with the Mater Dei High School campus, please submit the following report online:

Covid Positive Reporting Form - Google Forms

 

Students Returning to Campus After COVID:
  • You may return once fever free for 24 hours.  
    • It is strongly recommended:
      • to isolate for 5 days
      • return when symptoms have improved 
      • be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medicine
      • wear a mask indoors/outdoors through day 10 OR discontinue wearing a mask with 2 negative Covid tests
 
Thank you for helping to keep our Mater Dei community safe. 
COVID-19 EXPOSURE
 
If you were exposed to someone who tested positive for Covid you do not need to quarantine regardless of vaccination status.
 
ATHLETES TESTING POSITIVE WITH COVID
 

Parents of student athletes are required to complete the Covid screening form from the Athletic Training Office regarding their student-athletes symptom severity. The parent screening form must be turned into the athletic training staff and athletes may need to follow up with an MD/DO and complete the return to play protocol depending on the severity of symptoms. 

COVID TESTING
 
Rapid at home tests are available in the health office at no cost. 
 
HEALTH RESOURCES
Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) https://occovid19.ochealthinfo.com
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) https://schools.covid19.ca.gov/
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/
Orange County Department of Education OCDE Newsroom – Education news from Orange County and beyond

COMMUNICATION
Guidelines for 2021-2022 School Year

Update from Department of Catholic Schools Re Masks- 2/15/2022

Update from Department of Catholic Schools - 11/8/2021

Home | Orange County Catholic Schools (occatholicschools.org)

Updated Masking Guidelines - 3/2/2022
Update from Department of Catholic Schools - 3/11/2022

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