COVID-19 Information

LATEST NEWS – 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: The recommendation is 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

High Risk
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• New loss of taste or smell
• Cough

Low Risk
• Fever or chills
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea, vomiting or 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, students or employees, please notify the health office using the

Covid Positive Reporting Form - Google Forms

Returning to Campus After COVID:

You may return once fever free for 24 hours. It is recommended to quarantine for 5-days and to return on day 6, wearing a mask through day 10

- You should:
  - Have improved symptoms AND
  - be fever-free for the last 24 hours without the help of medicine AND
  - 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. It is recommended to test 3-5 days after the exposure and to wear a mask for 10 days and if you develop symptoms stay home and get tested.

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 accepted and available in the health office.

HEALTH RESOURCES

K-12 Schools Guidance 2022-23 9/30/2022

Managing Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 at School

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

Student Guidance • https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/COVID-19/SS4A/School_Case_Decision_Tree.pdf

CDC k-12 Guidance - Updated October 5, 2022 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-childcare-guidance.html

Summary of CDC Guidance https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7133e1.htm?s_cid=mm7133e1_w

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