March 25, 2022
Dear Superintendents and School Leaders,

I'm writing with updates on several COVID-19-related items that have arisen since my last message.

Decision Tree and FAQ Updated
The COVID-19 Decision Tree and related FAQ have been updated at the request of the County’s Public Health Services department. When testing a person with symptoms for COVID-19, the requirement that the initial test be performed within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms has been removed. Included below are the revised requirements for confirmation testing.

  • If a person with symptoms has a negative PCR (or other NAAT) result from a sample collected after the onset of symptoms, the person may return to school or work when they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, and their symptoms are improving.
  • If a person with symptoms has a negative antigen result from a sample collected after the onset of symptoms, the result must be confirmed with a second test (antigen, PCR, or other NAAT) taken 12 or more hours after the first test. If the initial antigen test, and the confirmation test results are both negative, the person may return to school or work when they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, and their symptoms are improving.

The Spanish versions of the Decision Tree and FAQ have also been updated. The e-Decision Tree is current through March 15 but does not reflect the update noted above.

Vaccinate or Test Requirement for School Workers
News of the County of San Diego’s recent decision to stop requiring its employees to provide evidence of full vaccination or test on a weekly basis has many wondering if schools can do the same.

The requirement for school workers (employees, contractors, and volunteers) is articulated in a state public health officer order from Aug. 11, 2021, which is still in effect. In a recent meeting, staff from the California Department of Public Health Safe Schools for All team expressed the belief that this requirement will remain in place until the COVID-19 vaccine mandates announced by the governor last October for school employees and children go into effect.

Statewide Instructional Modes Survey 
The new survey questions for the upcoming data collection cycle (March 25-April 7) have been posted on the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence website and linked in the FAQ document. Please note that the dashboard and publicly available maps on the CA Safe Schools for All Hub will be updated with the new data on Monday, April 4. After the initial update, the data visualizations will be updated nightly. Please contact the California Safe Schools Support Desk for assistance with the Instructional Modes Survey.

Thank you for all that you do. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
Paul

Dr. Paul Gothold
San Diego County Superintendent of Schools
phone: 858-295-6641