R-I coronavirus protocol sees frequent changes

As the start of school rapidly approaches, the Poplar Bluff R-I procedures frequently are changing.

“It changes,” Sheryl Talkington, health and drug free coordinator for the district, said. “It’s not like it’s been the same set of guidelines. They change so frequently that it’s hard to stay on top of that.”

There are people associated with the district in self-isolation because of a positive test result or potential exposure to somebody with a positive COVID-19 test, Talkington said.

Teachers, both new and returning, took part in training last week focused around district policies for COVID-19 preparedness.

The biggest component of that is contact tracing.

Talkington said if somebody with the district, either staff or student, receives a positive test result, her department starts conducting contact tracing.

To be identified in contact tracing, she said, an individual would need to be within six feet of somebody, who has tested positive for 15 minutes or longer without a mask on.

Contact tracing goes back 48 hours from the onset of symptoms or positive test result.

“We’re only contact tracing for people who are positive,” Talkington said. “If they have symptoms or don’t have symptoms. If you’re positive, you’re positive.”

Those identified, she said, would be told to go home and self isolate immediately.

The district would provide information to the Butler County Health Department, which has worked with the district to create the protocol.

Health Department staff would then conduct its own investigation.

“We go ahead and send those people home immediately based on what we know,” Talkington said. “Then, the health department does their investigation. If they think those people can come back, then that’s great with us. If they think they shouldn’t be here, then we follow their directive on that.”

Those identified through this process will be told to stay home for 14 days.

Those diagnosed with COVID-19, either based on symptoms or a positive test, would be told to stay home for 10 days from the initial onset of symptoms.

If somebody receives a negative test, Talkington said, they still will need to stay home for that time period.

“A negative test will not get you out of quarantine,” Talkington said. “You are quarantined for 14 days.”

While the district is not requiring masks, they are encouraged. Using a mask will affect whether they identify somebody in contact tracing and send them home.

“That’s the problem with this whole thing, there’s so many variables,” Talkington said. “We are dependent upon the health department to contact us and guide us, as well as our staff, students and families to communicate what their situations are.”