COVID-19 in Ohio: State releases case reporting requirements for schools

Starting Sept. 8, parents and staff should notify Wayne Local Schools of any positive coronavirus diagnosis within 24 hours. Wayne Local Schools will then report student and staff cases to the Warren County Combined Health District, which will in turn report cases to the state.  Now that school is back in session, we ask for assistance with any positive coronavirus diagnosis. 

Additionally, under the recent health order, school districts are also required to notify parents and guardians of cases in writing within 24 hours of receiving notification. Schools should provide as much information as possible without releasing protected information, Governor DeWine said.  “We understand there is a balance between privacy and transparency,” the governor said. “Again, we do not intend for protected health information to be released in our effort to provide information to Ohioans so they can make the right decisions for their family.”

The following is a template letter our school district will use to notify that a positive COVID-19 case has been reported to Wayne Local Schools:  Download Here

TEMPLATE: 

 (Insert Date)

Dear School Community,

Wayne Local School District is committed to the safety and health of our students and staff. We want to inform you that that we have recently received information about at least one confirmed case of COVID-19 in a student or staff person at (Insert School Name). Cleaning and disinfecting of the exposed location(s) (has/have) been completed. 

(Insert School Name) will remain (Insert OPEN/CLOSED) at this time. We are working closely with Warren County Combined Health District and anyone identified as a close contact will be notified by the health department as a part of COVID-19 investigation.

How You Can Help

Be proactive about reducing the number of interactions that students and staff have with one another by practicing social distancing (staying at least 6 feet apart) to limit the spread of COVID-19.  In addition to physical distancing, these important tools help to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Stay home when you are sick.
• Wear a mask or face covering while in public places or if people who don’t live with you must visit your home.
• Avoid unnecessary gatherings with people who don’t live in your home.
• Avoid sharing food, drinks, or utensils.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Sing the Happy Birthday song twice to help know when it has been 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcohol.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, and then dispose of the tissue and wash your hands immediately. If you do not have a tissue, use your sleeve, not your hands, to cover coughs and sneezes. If you are experiencing cough or congestion, consider staying home and seeking medical care.
• Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends cleaning of frequently touched surfaces with household cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants that are appropriate for the surface, following label instructions. A simple bleach solution may also be utilized.

If you have any questions, contact Wayne Local School Nurses Jennifer Royalty or Shelly Philpot at (513) 897-4350 or the Warren County Combined Health District at (513) 695-1228. Thank you for helping to keep people safe and to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community and school.

For answers to your COVID-19 questions, call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634) or visit coronavirus.ohio.gov.

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. If you or a loved one are experiencing anxiety related to the coronavirus pandemic, help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call the COVID-19 CareLine at 1-800-720-9616.

Sincerely,

Pat Dubbs

Superintendent