From The Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville City School system outlined changes made to the Alabama Department of Health’s School Toolkit.
The guidelines for schools to reopen was revised to categorize symptoms of COVID-19, as major or minor symptoms. Major symptoms include a new cough, shortness of breath/respiratory distress and a new loss of smell or taste. Anyone in the school system with a major symptom or with a confirmed case of COVID-19 will require close contact tracing for exposure to others and a report to ADPH. The person will be placed in isolation from school and school activities and may return after 10 days and after at least one day of not having a fever without fever-reducing medication, and symptom improvement.
“A negative test or note from a healthcare provider will not shorten isolation due to a positive case or major symptom,” TCS said in a newsletter.
Anyone exposed to a person with coronavirus or with a suspected case of coronavirus will be quarantined for 14 days, even if a note from a doctor releases the person from quarantine.
Minor symptoms are fever, sore throat, chills, headache, body aches, runny nose/nasal congestion, stomach/abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.
“Students and staff with two or more minor symptoms will be asked to isolate at home and follow up with their healthcare provider for evaluation,” TCS said. “They may return to school with a note of clearance from their health care provider”
For those who come into contact with a person experiencing minor symptoms, a quarantine is no longer required.
