On January 12, 2022, the Lenawee County Health Department (“LCHD”) updated its COVID-19 isolation and quarantine requirements for schools. As a result of these updated requirements, Tecumseh Public Schools students and staff are required to adhere to the following isolation and quarantine requirements:
Students and Staff Testing Positive for COVID-19
TPS students and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 may return to school or work on the sixth day after the COVID-19 positive test was administered provided that the following conditions are met:
- The student or staff member’s COVID-19 symptoms, such as cough, runny nose, and congestion have gotten noticeably better.
- The student or staff member must not have had a fever for at least 24 hours prior to returning to school or work without the use of fever-reducing medication.
- The student or staff member must wear a face mask on days 6-10 after returning to school or work (the LCHD recommends that individuals wear a tight fitting N95, K95, or surgical mask as opposed to a cloth mask).
Students and Staff Subject to Quarantine by the LCHD as a Close Contact
TPS students and staff who are subject to quarantine by the LCHD or another health department as a close contact of a COVID-19 positive individual may return to school or work as follows:
Fully Vaccinated Students Under the Age of 18
TPS students under the age of 18 who have completed a primary COVID-19 vaccination series more than 2 weeks ago and are without symptoms of COVID-19 are not required to quarantine and may return to school immediately provided that the student wears a face mask on days 1-10 after the close contact.
Fully Vaccinated and Boosted Students and Staff
TPS students and staff who have completed a primary COVID-19 vaccination series and have received a booster shot or have completed a primary COVID-19 vaccination series within the past five months (Pfizer and Moderna) or two months (Johnson and Johnson) and are without symptoms of COVID-19 are not required to quarantine and may return to school immediately provided that the student or staff member wears a face mask on days 1-10 after the close contact.
Unvaccinated/Non-Boosted Students and Staff
Unless participating in the test-to-stay program, TPS students and staff who are unvaccinated or for whom it has been more than five months (Pfizer or Moderna) or two months (Johnson and Johnson) since the individual has completed their primary vaccination series and they are not boosted will be subject to quarantine by the LCHD for five days after the student or staff member was in close contact with the COVID-19 positive person. On the sixth day, the student or staff member may return to school/work if the individual is without symptoms and they wear a face mask for days 6-10 after the close contact.
Test-to-Stay Program for COVID-19 Close Contacts
The COVID-19 close contact test-to-stay program allows TPS students and employees who have been identified as a close contact of a COVID-19 positive individual at school and who would otherwise be subject to quarantine by the health department to continue to report to school or work subject to the following conditions:
- The student or employee must remain asymptomatic and not have any signs or symptoms of illness for a 14-day period following the close contact.
- The student or employee must participate in testing for COVID-19 every other day and must present a negative test to TPS after the close contact. The COVID-19 test may be a rapid antigen or rapid PCR test, however, the test must be administered by the school or a physician’s office, urgent care, pharmacy, or community testing clinic. TPS must be provided with evidence of a negative test each day. Tests administered at home will not be accepted or considered.
- The student or employee must wear a facemask while present at school or work for a period of 10 days after the close contact.
- The student or employee must monitor for symptoms of illness for a period of 14 days after the close contact and must immediately begin isolating at home and should seek healthcare attention if experiencing any symptoms of illness.
- By participating in the test-to-stay option, the student or employee understands, agrees, and consents to the student’s or employee’s daily test results being reported to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Lenawee County Health Department by TPS through the Communicable Disease Reporting software (KKZO).
Students or employees who are unable to participate in the test-to-stay program due to the existence of a religious or medical exception to testing or wearing face coverings will be subject quarantine as required by the Lenawee County Health Department.
For those TPS students and staff members currently (as of January 12, 2022) subject to isolation or quarantine by the LCHD, another health department, or applicable statue, rule, or regulation, the LCHD has indicated that they do not intend to update the quarantine/isolation notice that was previously provided. Despite this, the LCHD has stated that students and staff may, as of January 12, 2022, follow these updated requirements. Thus, TPS will recognize these updated requirements beginning on January 13, 2022, even for students and staff previously subject to isolation or quarantine.