Any other states get responding to COVID scenarios guidelines yet?

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Specializes in School nursing.

So my state released the initial COVID case in school scenario document Friday night. (I'm in MA - here is the link for those curious: http://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/on-desktop/2020-0717protocols.docx)

I presented it this morning to our health/operations re-opening committee after turning it into a presentable Powerpoint. There was a lot of wide eyes and rightfully - especially about who is considered a close contact.

(Mainly to the point of what to do mean an entire classroom cohort is considered a close contact if they are six feet apart and masked...I had to stop and say when you have students in a self contained classroom, it may be harder to be perfectly 6 feet away for a full 6 hours so yes, they should all be tested in one confirmed case was in the cohort.)

And they realized I can't navigate it alone, so they found money to hire a LPN to assist me. So that is a positive, I suppose. I will supervising this person and still be assessing every person but now I can delegate other tasks and have a person to help me with managing both my office and an isolation space.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Pediatrics.

WOW!, that is great you are getting help! CONGRATS!

I read that over the weekend (in MA as well) and my head is still spinning from it, and my district has still not said what the plans are, nor has nursing, except to say "find an extra room in your building for an isolation space". It is so frustrating!

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Specializes in School nursing.
1 hour ago, scuba nurse said:

WOW!!, that is great you are getting help! CONGRATS!

I read that over the weekend (in MA as well) and my head is still spinning from it, and my district has still not said what the plans are, nor has nursing, except to say "find an extra room in your building for an isolation space". It is so frustrating!

Finding an isolation space was the first thing we did at my school (floor above me with its own bathroom), I was just thinking how to manage both so yes, this is huge.

And yes, it is so overwhelming! But I was wondering if it was more than other states had gotten, same, etc. I mean, I'm guess I'm glad to start somewhere. To do this, today I also mentioned every staff member must have a sub plan ready to go with a plan for the at least two people that could step in to cover a class if needed, or staff an office if admin, etc.

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Specializes in ICU, Adventures in school nursing.

MA nurse also. I'm searching for the isolation room requirements. Could you provide a link? I've been searching through all my CDC and DESE information, but I can't seem to locate. Thank you!

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Specializes in School nursing.
18 hours ago, GatezRN said:

MA nurse also. I'm searching for the isolation room requirements. Could you provide a link? I've been searching through all my CDC and DESE information, but I can't seem to locate. Thank you!

Sure thing, here's the link to all the documents DESE posts - the protocol one is the first one listed:

http://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/on-desktop.html

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

PA: Public Health Guidance Regarding COVID-19 for Phased Reopening of Pre-K to 12 Schools --7/16/20 guidance

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Have all students wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before or immediately upon entering the school.

https://www.education.pa.gov/Schools/safeschools/emergencyplanning/COVID-19/SchoolReopeningGuidance/ReopeningPreKto12/PublicHealthGuidance/Pages/default.aspx

PA Governor Wolf temporarily suspended the school immunization requirements. https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Guidance/Temporary-Regulatory-Suspension-Immunizations.aspx

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