What happens if a school staff member or a student is exposed or already has COVID-19?

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Since the beginning of September, close to 380 students and school staff members have been diagnosed with the coronavirus. Are there definitive protocols set in place by Connecticut Health Officials?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if the student has been exposed or is showing symptoms of the coronavirus, the teacher excuses the student from the classroom and immediately alerts a COVID-19 designated point-of-care or POC, which in most cases, is a designated isolation room.

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The POC will then notify a parent or guardian of the situation. After the student is picked up, they should consult with their healthcare provider for evaluation. In a nutshell, the majority of schools in Connecticut follow the CDC suggestions as a guideline, but sometimes policies and procedures vary slightly from district to district.

According to Hearst Connecticut Media, when a student tests positive for the virus in Norwalk schools, it's more than likely the entire class would be placed in quarantine. School officials in Bridgewater, Roxbury, and Washington take a somewhat alternative approach if a student tests positive for coronavirus. School officials walk through the classroom, figuring out which classmates may sit within six feet.

There is a consistent message from Connecticut school districts across the state, which is if students or staff members aren't feeling well, they should stay home.

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