On Monday, seats will be filled inside classrooms now that schools can be at 100 percent capacity. The state is also not enforcing social distancing requirements.
Washoe County School District (WCSD) officials said in an email to 2 News, "With the return to full time, in-person learning, three feet of social distancing will not be possible at every school and in every situation, but of course we will continue to make the effort wherever and whenever possible."
The bigger question is, what would happen if one person within a classroom test positive for the coronavirus? Jennifer Crane, with the school district's Student Health Services, answered that question in a press conference on Wednesday. She said any person within six feet of a student that tests positive would have to be excluded. The only exception is if an individual has been vaccinated and is not showing symptoms listed in the school district's self-screen tool.
Families could use the template to see if they need to keep their child home if they're not feeling well. Fevers, respiratory symptoms and loss of smell or taste require immediate exclusion for ten days. In 72 hours, or three days, they can get a COVID-19 test to determine whether or not they have the virus. Students and staff can return to school if they are feeling better with a negative test result.
In the self-screening tool, it lists symptoms like chills, headaches, or sore throat. A student would have to have two or more of the symptoms listed to be required to isolate.
Crane explained, "If a person comes in with a headache that's only one factor."
Vomiting and diarrhea are listed in the same category. There is a 48-hour exclusion period if a person is experiencing one of those symptoms.
In the case of an outbreak, Crane did not provide specific information during the press conference. She said if that were to happen, they'll follow directives and guidance from the health department.
