COVID Updates

List of 6 items.

• May 2024 - COVID-19 Policy & Procedures Update

  COVID-19 Positive Individuals

  • • May return to school once
      • Fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications  AND
      • Symptoms are beginning to improve.
      • If you develop a fever or begin to feel worse after returning to normal activities, remain home until the above criteria are met. 

  Face masks/coverings

  • • Optional for prevention of respiratory illness. Recommended to use for 5 days after infection as added protection.

  Testing

  • • Testing for respiratory illnesses is valuable to determine the cause and treatment if necessary.

  Ventilation, Hand Hygiene, and Respiratory Etiquette 

  • • Hand sanitizer is available in hallways and common areas 
    • Faculty and staff are encouraged to remind students to perform hand hygiene before/after eating or touching their face.

  Stay home when you are sick:

  • • Stay home and notify the school if you are experiencing symptoms that are not normal or explained by another cause, such as fever, chills, runny nose, etc. 

   

  https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/whats-new/updated-respiratory-virus-guidance.html

   

  

• March 11, 2022 - Mask Policy Update

  On February 25, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) revised their policy with changes on guidance for masking. The guidance is based on community level status as determined by updated safety metrics.  Those levels are: 

  • High Community Levels- All individuals are required to wear face coverings while indoors during high COVID-19 Community levels. 
  • Medium Community Levels- Face masks/coverings are optional unless recently exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual or experiencing symptoms. Individuals who are at high risk for severe illness are recommended to consult with their healthcare provider regarding mask usage when community transmission is medium. 
  • Low Community Levels- Face masks/coverings are optional unless an individual has recently been exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual or is experiencing symptoms. 

  According to the new safety metrics, San Antonio is now at a Low COVID-19 Community Level. In accordance with this guidance, IWHS will become mask-optional beginning on Monday, March 21.  

• January 11, 2022 - Protocol Update(s)

  These new prevention methods will be implemented until further notice: 

  • As previously stated, we will continue to prioritize in-person learning. However, due to the recent increase in Omicron-related case numbers in San Antonio other in-person events, gatherings or meetings are now to be held in a virtual format. The high school will closely monitor this so that it can be updated as needed. 
  • Food and drinks should not be served at any in-person event, gathering or meeting.  
  • Athletic competitions will go on with no spectators. Live streaming will be available. 
  • Masks continue to be mandated on campus. It is very important that the mask is worn correctly. All employees are asked to remind others of the IWHS face-covering policy; it is our expectation that all students, faculty and staff will take appropriate precautions to help keep our campus and community at-large safe. 
  • If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, follow the steps outlined in our COVID-19 Protocol. 

• January 1, 2022 - Isolation/Quarantine Protocol  Update(s)

  Updated Isolation/Quarantine Protocol 

  Test Positive For COVID-19 (Isolation)  Everyone, regardless of vaccination status.	Stay home for 5 days.  If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave your house.  Continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.  If you have a fever, continue to stay home until your fever resolves.
  If You Were Exposed to Someone with COVID-19 (Quarantine) and you:  Have been boosted  OR  Completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months  OR  Completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months	Wear a mask around others for 10 days.  Test on day 5, if possible.  If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home.
  If You Were Exposed to Someone with COVID-19 (Quarantine) and you:  Completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and are not boosted  OR  Completed the primary series of J&J over 2 months ago and are not boosted  OR  Are unvaccinated	Stay home for 5 days. After that continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.  If you can’t quarantine you must wear a mask for 10 days.  Test on day 5 if possible.  If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home
  Test to Stay (optional)  Available when both the person with COVID-19 and the close contact were properly masked at the time of exposure.   This provides an option for unvaccinated individuals to stay in school after exposure.	Testing is repeated at least twice during a seven-day period post-exposure      https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/what-you-should-know.html

   

  Source CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html 

• June 7, 2021 - Mask Policy Update

  Dear Shamrock Community, 
  
  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) released an update on COVID-19 guidelines related to the wearing of masks and face coverings. Upon review of the CDC guidelines and after consultation with our Board of Directors, Incarnate Word High School (IWHS) has updated its mask policy. Attached below is the revised IWHS policy related to wearing masks and face coverings. This policy is effective June 9, 2021. 
  
  Should you have any questions, please contact Nurse Myracle Rubio, Rn at mrubio@iwhs.org or 210-283-6396.
  
  LINK

• December 12, 2020 - Protocol Update

  • Quarantine can end after Day 10 without testing AND if no symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring. OR
  • Quarantine can end after Day 7 if a diagnostic specimen tests negative AND if no symptoms were reported during daily monitoring. The specimen may be collected and tested within 48 hours before the time of planned quarantine discontinuation (e.g., in anticipation of testing delays), but quarantine cannot be discontinued earlier than after Day 7.

  Although these alternative to quarantine have been provided by CDC, please continue to monitor for any sign and symptoms of COVID-19.

  Here is the link for the update https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/scientific-brief-options-to-reduce-quarantine.html.