Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Northwest Local School District PreK-12 Families, Staff, and Students,
Due to recent changes from the Ohio Department of Health, Northwest Local School District will be implementing the following COVID protocols on Wednesday, January 19, 2022. Please note: Masks are required for all staff and students indoors through January 24, 2022. (Per Federal guidelines, masks will still be required on District Transportation through March 18, 2022.)
Reduced isolation period for individuals who test positive for Covid-19:
Individuals who test positive for Covid-19 must isolate at home for 5 full days. At the end of that 5-day period, if the person is symptom free (or all symptoms are greatly improved) AND the person has not had a fever within the last 24 hours, he/she may return to work/school wearing a mask on day 6 and continue to wear the mask for an additional 5 full days. Inability or refusal to mask at all times during days 6-10 will require an individual to stay home.
Reduced quarantine period for individuals who are UNVACCINATED and are close contacts to a positive Covid-19 case:
Unvaccinated close contacts of a Covid positive individual outside of school must quarantine at home for 5 full days. At the end of that 5 day period, if the person is symptom free, he/she may return to work or school wearing a mask on day 6, and continue to wear the mask for an additional 5 full days. Inability or refusal to mask at all times during days 6-10 will require an individual to stay home. Testing on day 5 is highly recommended.
Unvaccinated close contacts of a Covid positive individual who is exposed within the school setting may continue to report to school/work each day regardless of vaccination status as part of the Ohio Department of Health's Mask to Stay Protocols, provided the individual wears a mask and self monitors for symptoms.
*Students returning to school on day 6 for exposures outside of school or participating in Mask to Stay who are involved in extracurriculars and wish to resume active participation are required to follow Test to Play Guidance - which requires students to test on day 5 and get a negative result before returning to participation.
Quarantine period for individuals who are FULLY VACCINATED and are close contacts to a positive Covid-19 case:
Fully vaccinated close contacts of a Covid positive individual are permitted to continue to work and attend school & extracurricular activities provided they wear a mask for 10 full days following the exposure AND self-monitor each day (must remain symptom free). Testing on day 5 is highly recommended.
Updated determination of fully vaccinated status.
The Ohio Department of Health has changed their definition of what it means to be fully vaccinated. Individuals who are not in compliance will no longer be considered fully vaccinated.
In order to be considered fully vaccinated an individual must have obtained a booster dose:
- if the individual’s first and second shots were completed MORE THAN 6 months ago for those who received Pfizer or Moderna
- or if a person received the one-step Johnson & Johnson vaccine more than 2 months ago.
- Individuals who received their first and second dose from Pfizer or Moderna LESS THAN 6 months ago are considered fully vaccinated.
We ask for your continued cooperation as we continue to adjust our protocols in this evolving Covid landscape. As always, we ask that you stay home when you are not well or have symptoms, wear a mask in public, practice good hand hygiene and social distance whenever possible.
Additional Resources: