It has been a challenge to keep up with the ever changing rules and guidelines for quarantine. At the end of last week, we received guidance that we can now relay to everyone. These guidelines apply to staff and students alike.
1. If you are vaccinated or have contracted the virus within the last 90 days and show no symptoms, you do not have to quarantine.
2. If you are unvaccinated and have been exposed as a close contact (within 6 feet for 15 minutes or longer) and have NO SYMPTOMS, you may TEST TO STAY (TTS). Otero and Crowley County have supported for the past few months that you may test 48 hours after you recognize you are a close contact, and if your test is negative, you do not have to miss
work/school. You will need to test again one week later to confirm that you do not have the virus. IN THE TTS PROGRAM, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO QUARANTINE AT ALL AS LONG AS YOUR TESTS CONTINUE TO BE NEGATIVE AND YOU DO NOT DEVELOP SYMPTOMS.
OR...
If you are unvaccinated and have been exposed as a close contact (within 6 feet for 15 minutes or longer) and have NO SYMPTOMS and choose not to test, you need to quarantine for 5 days and if you are still symptom free after that time frame, you may return and is strongly recommended to wear a mask for the next 5 days after.
3. In any instance you develop symptoms after exposure you should stay home and monitor
and if they persist for 24-48 hours, you should consider getting tested.
4. If you test positive, you need to isolate for 5 days. If your symptoms are resolved and you have no fever after the 5th day, you may return to work/school and wear a mask for the remaining 5 days. You must stay in isolation as long as symptoms persist.
Rick Lovato
Superintendent