January 6, 2022 COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions Update
Q: What if I test positive on a home administered test?
A:
- For Tompkins County Residents: Immediately go to this website and follow the directions for reporting your positive test.
- For Residents of Other Counties: Immediately go to your county website for details or contact your local health department for guidance.
- Employees should notify and forward any documentation to Tina Lincoln tlincoln@tburg.k12.ny.us . Additionally, notify your immediate supervisor that you have tested positive.
- Parent/guardians should forward any documentation for students received from the DOH to:
Bethany Ladd (bladd@tburg.k12.ny.us), Elementary School Nurse
Julie Carpenter (jcarpenter@tburg.k12.ny.us), Middle School Nurse
Katy Iacovelli (kiacovelli@tburg.k12.ny.us), High School Nurse
- Self-Isolate for the indicated quarantine period.
- Notify any close contacts of your positive result
Q: I am an employee, does a positive result on a home administered test qualify me for NYS COVID-19 leave?
A: No, NYS COVID-19 Leave only applies to official quarantine orders associated with a PCR test. Any leave associated with a home administered test will be charged to your leave time accruals.
Q: Does this mean I should try to get a PCR test if I test positive on a home administered test?
A: If you wish to access NYS COVID-19 leave, then, yes. However, your five-day isolation period may be concluded by the time you get your results.
Q: How does contact tracing work with a positive result on a home administered COVID-19 test?
A: The county will not be conducting case investigations on home administered positive test results, nor will they be requiring organizations including schools to conduct contact tracing of these positive individuals. Should we become aware of specific close contacts in our organization, we will notify them so they can act on this information. This has become an area of self-responsibility.
NOTE: Effective 1/7/2022 only positive results from a test administered under laboratory conditions will be reported on our website. Self- or home-administered tests will not be reported on our website. This is consistent with reporting by other school districts within our catchment area.
Q: If I am a close contact to a COVID-19 positive person, do I still need to quarantine?
A: It depends and this action is tied to self-responsibility. The CDC and NYSDOH state that unvaccinated persons should quarantine. Vaccinated persons with symptoms should also quarantine as should booster eligible vaccinated individuals. All others can continue to report to work unless they develop symptoms.
Q: Can I test out of quarantine?
A: No.
Q: Will schools still conduct contact tracing?
A: Schools can no longer direct individuals to quarantine pending communication from the county health department. Our school will notify close contacts that we have become aware that they may have been exposed to COVID-19. This is an area of self-responsibility.
Q: Has the length of a quarantine for a positive case and a close contact changed?
A: Yes, according to the health department, positive individuals can leave quarantine with a well-fitting mask after five days if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are improving. If close contacts quarantine, five days is recommended unless they develop symptoms related to COVID-19.
Q: If a close contact returns to school in less than five days, will they be excluded from entry by the school?
A: The school does not have any enforcement authority over close contact quarantines and therefore will not be monitoring an individual’s length of quarantine unless they test positive for COVID-19. This is an area of self-responsibility.
Q: If a student becomes symptomatic while at school, how will the school respond?
A: Our protocols for addressing symptomatic individuals has not changed. Our school health professionals will assess the student and determine the best course including administering a COVID-19 test with parent/guardian permission and sending the student home until they are permitted to return to school under current health guidelines.
Q: Is the NYS mask mandate still in effect?
A: Yes.
Q: Where can I find more detail on quarantines, test reporting and contact tracing?
A: For more information, please go to:
https://tompkinscountyny.gov/health/factsheets/coronavirusfaq#qtandiso
Q: Do vaccinations and booster shots have paid COVID leave time available or do employees need to take personal accruals?
A: All COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, are eligible for up to four hours leave time per occurrence to access those services.
Best,
Kimberly Bell
TCSD Superintendent of Schools
100 Whig Street, Trumansburg, NY 14886
P: 607-387-7551, ext. 4421 | F: 607-387-2880
January 3, 2022 COVID-19 Guidance Update
Q: I am a student and have administered an antigen (at home rapid test) that indicates positive for COVID-19. What are my next steps?
A: A student that takes an antigen (rapid) test that indicates positive (+) should go to the Tompkins County Department of Health (DOH) website or call (607) 274-6604 to register the positive result.
If you reside outside of Tompkins County, contact your County of Residence Department of Health (DOH) to report the positive test results. Not all counties have an online reporting system available. If the website does not have a reporting system you will need to call or email the DOH and inquire about next steps (Schuyler County DOH (607)535-8140 / E-Mail Seneca County DOH covid19@co.seneca.ny.us). Once entered, emailed, or phoned in, the DOH will issue further guidance.
Parent/guardians should forward any documentation received from the DOH to:
● Bethany Ladd (bladd@tburg.k12.ny.us), Elementary School Nurse
● Julie Carpenter (jcarpenter@tburg.k12.ny.us), Middle School Nurse
● Katy Iacovelli (kiacovelli@tburg.k12.ny.us), High School Nurse
Q: I am a student that is experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms, what are my next steps?
A: Students that are symptomatic at school may take a PCR test administered by the school nurse before going home. Parents and guardians must sign a consent in order for the school to test. Students that do not test at school or have access to a PCR test will need to quarantine for ten (10) days from onset of symptoms.
Students who are symptomatic at home or at school must present a negative PCR (not a rapid test) to return to school in fewer than ten (10) days of isolation.
Q: Will the District participate in “Test to Stay?”
A: No, Tompkins County DOH has Not authorized the “test to stay.”
Q: How does contact tracing work with a positive result on a home administered COVID-19 test?
A: The county will not be conducting case investigations on home administered positive test results, nor will they be requiring organizations including schools to conduct contact tracing of these positive individuals.
Q: I was not able to access the general distribution of antigen (at home rapid) tests on Sunday, January 2, 2022. How do I access a test for my child?
A: Antigen (rapid) tests are available for students and staff for testing purposes at home. Please contact the appropriate building main office to access a test. Antigen tests will be sent home with children at the request of a parent or guardian.
Q: I am an employee of the District and have administered an antigen (at home rapid test) that indicates positive for COVID-19. What are my next steps?
A: An Employee that takes an antigen (rapid) test that indicates positive (+) should go to the Tompkins County Department of Health website to register the positive result. If Tompkins County is not your county of Residence, please contact the appropriate Department of Health. Not all counties have an online reporting system available. If the website does not have an online reporting system you will need to call or email the DOH and inquire about next steps (Call Schuyler County DOH (607)535-8140 / E-Mail Seneca County DOH covid19@co.seneca.ny.us). Once entered, emailed or phoned in, the DOH will issue further guidance. Employees should forward any documentation received from the DOH (after self-reporting) to Tina Lincoln at tlincoln@tburg.k12.ny.us.
Q: The CDC has shortened the recommended isolation and quarantine period for the general population. How does this impact employees of the District?
A: Employees, depending on their county of residence, are considered essential workers and should return to work after five (5) days of quarantine, as long as symptoms are resolved or reduced.
If one has mild symptoms, they must:
● Not have a fever for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication
● Have resolution of symptoms or, if still with residual symptoms, then all are improving
● Not have rhinorrhea (runny nose)
● Have no more than minimal, non-productive cough (i.e., not disruptive to work and does not stop the person from wearing their mask continuously, not coughing up phlegm)
Q: As an unvaccinated employee of the District may I use an antigen (at home rapid) test as evidence of weekly COVID-19 testing to satisfy the NYS DOH mandate?
A: No, employees that are unvaccinated must continue to show a lab test report weekly for COVID-19. Antigen (rapid) test results are not acceptable. This is a mandatory condition of employment.