COVID-19: School Reporting Process

This page provides school personnel with resources and answers to questions about reporting cases of COVID-19.

CCBH Decision Tree

We have developed a decision tree to help school staff when dealing with COVID-19 in the school environment.

Please contact us with any questions.

Decision Tree revised – October 2020

Student or staff member becomes ill 

If this happens onsite, immediately isolate a student or staff member who is ill and shows symptoms. Send the person home as soon as possible.

Students and staff members who are ill must isolate at home and contact their healthcare provider.
They cannot return until they meet ALL of these requirements:

• Isolate at home for a minimum of 10 days from the date that symptoms began
• If no symptoms, isolate at home for a minimum of 10 days from the date of a positive test
• At least 24 hours without a fever and without taking medication to reduce a fever such as Motrin or Tylenol
• Symptoms improving

Identify close contacts 

A close contact is defined as coming within 6 feet of another person for at least 15 minutes.

• Close contact may be cumulative, meaning repeated contact for several short periods of time qualifies someone as a close contact
• Examples of cumulative contact could include drills during athletic practices
• Extracurricular activities may need to be postponed or cancelled

Carry out cleaning and disinfecting practices

Be consistent and thorough at all times.

Notify other students and staff of cases that occur

Use this sample letter to parents as a way to inform and help prevent the spread of illness.

Defining isolation and quarantine

Review this document from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to learn about the differences.

Close contacts of students and staff members

Close contacts of someone diagnosed with COVID-19 (with or without symptoms)
Must quarantine at home for 14 days from the last date of contact with the ill person

A person diagnosed with COVID-19 with symptoms
Considered to be infectious for 48 hours before symptoms started and until their isolation period ends

A person diagnosed with COVID-19 who does not have symptoms
Considered to be infectious for 48 hours before their test was taken and also for 10 days afterward

If a student or staff member becomes ill while in quarantine
May be necessary to also quarantine other students and staff members who came into close contact with the ill person

Those who are identified as a close contact of a COVID-positive person will be called by their local health department

Exposure outside of the school environment

Students and staff members may be placed in quarantine due to exposure outside of school, such as a sick family member. In cases like this, please remember:

• Other students and staff may need to be placed in quarantine if a student or staff member becomes ill while under quarantine
• We can help you determine the right course of action

Reporting

Schools are required to report new cases among students and staff to their local health department within 24 hours. Cases discovered over a weekend or holiday may be reported by the next business day.

Use the School Contact Tracing Line List to record the following:

• Contact information for the COVID-positive person and their close contacts
• The work/class schedule for the COVID-positive person and their close contacts

Please email the form to schools@ccbh.net when completed. We will help you to determine if spread of COVID-19 is suspected in your school community and what measures should be taken.

Requirement to report to the Ohio Department of Health

School contacts will receive a weekly survey link. They must record the number of cases among students and staff who have been onsite or have had interactions with other students and staff members.

Schools are required to complete the survey upon experiencing their first diagnosed case at the school.

The survey link is sent on Friday and must be returned by the following Monday at 10:30 a.m.

Questions

schools@ccbh.net

216.201.2000