Covid Update – December 13, 2021

December 13, 2021

Dear Staff and Families,

Several St. Elizabeth employee/student have been recently diagnosed with COVID-19.

Students and staff identified as having been in prolonged close contact with this individual have been notified separately – you are not in this group.

As a reminder, students and staff who are masked and three feet from a confirmed case indoors are not considered close contacts in the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance. Therefore, consistent and correct mask use drastically reduces the number of students and staff needing to quarantine.

As always, everyone should monitor their health and stay at home if they develop symptoms. Anyone who develops severe symptoms should seek medical care immediately.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever (temperature greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit), chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle/body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. If you or your child develop symptoms of COVID-19, please contact your medical provider to discuss evaluation and testing.

For severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or difficulty waking up, or bluish lips or face, please seek the closest emergency department or call 9-1-1 immediately.

Any individuals who are sick with or exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 must stay home regardless of vaccination status to minimize the chance of spreading COVID-19 or other germs and viruses. If symptoms last longer than 24 hours, an individual must receive a negative COVID-19 test or alternative medical diagnosis prior to returning to school. Any individual who tests positive for COVID-19 must isolate for 10 days from the date symptoms first appeared or the date of a positive test result.

Let our St. Elizabeth community pray for all those currently ill, for caregivers and for an end to the pandemic.

Sincerely,

Kristine Hillmann