Anonymous wrote:OMG one whole case!?

Duh. One case is how it starts.

“Assuring everyone’s safety is our top priority“

It isn’t, though, because they’re not requiring teacher and staff vaccination.

Anonymous wrote:We’re at Tucker and just got the email too. I wish it would have said how long it usually takes for the health department to make contacts. I hope the kiddo is ok. I am so scared for our kids.

As an Alexandria resident who had a child with covid last year, I’ll tell you that the health dept is quick! I was going through our list of contacts and the health dept beat me to all the calls.

And ACPS remains outliers not requiring staff and teachers to be vaccinated. This is only the beginning…

Anonymous wrote:There are going to be isolated cases. Some kids would get COVID even if schools weren't in session. The only question is about whether they will transmit it to others in school. So this one case wouldn't scare me, but I would watch the school to see if this turns into a bigger cluster. If it stays at one case? Ok. A kid got COVID (presumably outside of school, since it was the only case identified) and didn't pass it to anyone else. If it fits turn into a cluster? Then we need to take another look at our mitigations.

Signed,
Someone who has been working on-site for almost all of this. We have had numerous employees come down with COVID, and we've all been subject to the 'close contact' notifications. But not one single transmission at work. Every employee who caught COVID got it somewhere outside of work, and even if they were on site sharing an office or small conference room, not one passed it to a single other employee. Mitigations work.

Without weekly testing, we will not know the spread. A work environment is very different than school.

There are going to be isolated cases. Some kids would get COVID even if schools weren't in session. The only question is about whether they will transmit it to others in school. So this one case wouldn't scare me, but I would watch the school to see if this turns into a bigger cluster. If it stays at one case? Ok. A kid got COVID (presumably outside of school, since it was the only case identified) and didn't pass it to anyone else. If it fits turn into a cluster? Then we need to take another look at our mitigations.

Signed,
Someone who has been working on-site for almost all of this. We have had numerous employees come down with COVID, and we've all been subject to the 'close contact' notifications. But not one single transmission at work. Every employee who caught COVID got it somewhere outside of work, and even if they were on site sharing an office or small conference room, not one passed it to a single other employee. Mitigations work.

Congrats?

So? Not gonna shut down school for one case.

Anonymous wrote:OMG one whole case!?

What do you achieve from this?

Anonymous wrote:Is this from summer school or did Alexandria start extra early this year?

This one school started August 9. The rest of ACPS starts August 23 or 24.

OMG one whole case!?

Is this from summer school or did Alexandria start extra early this year?

We’re at Tucker and just got the email too. I wish it would have said how long it usually takes for the health department to make contacts. I hope the kiddo is ok. I am so scared for our kids.

One week in at Tucker.


Dear Families,

This letter is to notify you that a COVID-19 case has been identified at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School. The individual was at the school this week.

Assuring everyone’s safety is our top priority. We have notified the Alexandria Health Department (AHD), who is providing public health guidance to us.

When AHD learns of a COVID-19 case who resides in the City of Alexandria, they contact the individual directly to provide guidance and to identify close contacts. Close contacts are people who were within 6 feet of the case during their infectious period for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period or people who had direct exposure to the case’s respiratory secretions. We are collaborating with AHD to identify and reach out to close contacts at the location during this timeframe.

If you or your child is identified as a “close contact,” you will be notified separately from this letter.

Close contacts are advised to get tested for COVID-19 as soon as possible, self-quarantine, actively monitor for COVID-19 symptoms, and get tested again 7-10 days after their exposure if their previous test(s) were negative. (AHD recommends PCR testing for contacts)
All close contacts should get tested immediately if they develop symptoms.
The following individuals do not need to quarantine, even if they are identified as a close contact:
Individuals who were fully vaccinated at the time they were exposed.
Individuals who had COVID-19 within the last 90 days of their exposure.
Close contacts who do not need to quarantine should still monitor for COVID-19 symptoms, get tested immediately if they develop symptoms, and stay home until they receive test results.
Please note that if you or your child is not identified as a close contact, you will not receive additional communication from the AHD.

Please continue to practice the following preventive measures to protect your household and others:

Monitor your/your child’s health by remaining alert for any COVID-19 symptoms.
Notify your/your child’s primary care provider immediately if you/your child develop(s) any COVID-19 symptoms. Call ahead when seeking medical care and inform your doctor that you/your child was exposed to COVID-19.
Practice safety precautions, such as maintaining physical distance (6 feet or more), wearing a mask, frequent handwashing, avoiding non-essential activities, and staying home when ill.
Remember, people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. If your child is at higher risk for severe illness, please advise your school.

We want to assure you that the health and safety of our community is a top priority for ACPS.

Sincerely,

Julie A. Crawford, Ed.D.
Chief of Student Services & Equity