|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We are excited to announce that APS is participating in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s COVID-19 weekly surveillance testing program! Within the coming months, our schools will offer free and voluntary tests each week to provide an extra mitigation layer to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Testing and early detection is a critical step in keeping our students and staff healthy and maintaining in-person learning. Please note that Child Development Centers will not be able to participate in this weekly testing program.
The weekly COVID-19 school testing program is available to all APS students and staff, regardless of vaccination status or presence of symptoms. All students under 18 years of age must obtain parental/guardian permission by submitting a consent form to participate in the program. We will share information about the consent form and how to sign up in the coming weeks.
Students will receive $25 for the first COVID-19 test that is administered to them through the program. Students can then receive $10 for every subsequent test (at a maximum of one incentive per week). We thank the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Reopening Schools award funds for this incentive.
To learn more about the program, please review the Frequently Asked Questions. For additional questions or concerns, please contact your school. Thank you for helping us keep students safe.
Reminder about Isolations, Quarantines and the COVID-19 Tracker
Any student or staff member who tests positive for COVID-19 is required to isolate at home for 10 days. In addition, as part of our updated guidance, if a student or staff member has had close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual within 14 days and develops COVID-19 symptoms, that student or staff member will be considered a probable case and required to isolate at home for 10 days. Nurses will share information with families and staff members who have been identified as probable cases. Students or staff who are probable will only be allowed to return to school once they have received a negative PCR test and symptoms have resolved. Otherwise, probable cases will be required to complete a 10-day isolation at home.
As a reminder, in accordance with health guidance, APS is no longer implementing proactive quarantining of those who may have been exposed to a positive and/or symptomatic individual within the school setting. However, quarantines are required for higher-risk exposures including all athletics, field trips and after-school bands, choirs and performing arts groups.
APS nurses will work with families on best practices and will provide guidance if a family member in the home tests positive for COVID-19. APS is following the Tri-County Health Department’s infectious disease guidelines and we will continue to take additional health measures as directed by TCHD. This means that if an outbreak is identified, all those who are unvaccinated and identified as potentially exposed will be required to quarantine.
As we have shared previously, APS is keeping its COVID-19 tracker updated with reported positive cases. The tracker will remain updated on a daily basis (Monday-Friday) with any reports of positive cases and quarantines at schools.
- Superintendent Rico Munn