Nearly three years from the date of its proclamation on March 4, 2020, California’s COVID-19 state of emergency officially ended on February 28. The end of the state of emergency has prompted several changes to pandemic-era public health orders related to vaccines, masking, isolation and quarantine, including in public schools.
On Monday, the Turlock Unified School District shared a message regarding the end of the state of emergency and how the California Department of Public Health’s updated guidelines for K-12 schools will impact their 14 campuses.
Under the new changes, those who test positive for COVID-19 from March 13 must stay home for five days from the onset of symptoms or the day they first tested positive. . Individuals can return to school on the sixth day if they have improved symptoms or have been fever-free for 24 hours, whether or not they take follow-up tests. Previously, isolation could only end if symptoms were no longer present and the person tested negative.
Previous guidelines also required members of the campus community to wear face coverings for 10 days once they returned from their period of self-isolation. New guidelines now allow individuals to go without a mask after two consecutive negative tests taken at least a day apart.
Amid the new guidelines, students or staff members who develop symptoms of COVID-19 should still report potential exposures to their school at www.turlock.k12.ca.us/CovidReporting. Antigen testing will continue to be offered free of charge at all school sites, while the district will offer testing to students and staff at the Child Nutrition Education Center at 1901 Auto Mall Dr. from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Fridays, although insurance is compulsory.
For those who test positive for COVID-19 and were present at any of the TUSD campuses, potential exhibit locations and times will be uploaded to www.turlock.k12.ca.us/Exposures. All confirmed COVID-19 incidents related to Turlock Unified School District school sites will continue to be posted at www.turlock.k12.ca.us/Dashboard. TUSD will also continue to follow all CalOSHA requirements for safe school and work environments, including reporting outbreaks to the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency.
“We are grateful to be entering a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic that better aligns with our efforts to return to a more normal school year,” said Marie Russell, Director of Communications, Family Engagement and awareness at TUSD. “We appreciate your patience and support.”
