Face-Covering Protocols
Updated: August 4, 2021
Following is guidance on face-covering requirements per CDPH’s most recent COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools. The CDPH guidelines detail the requirements in 2 distinct scenarios:
- While Outdoors
- While Indoors
Face Covering Requirements: 2 Scenarios
While Outdoors
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has lifted the requirement for face coverings to be worn by students, staff, and visitors when outdoors on school property, regardless of vaccination status, and regardless of whether or not physical distancing can be maintained.
Face coverings will no longer be required for children or adults during any outdoor activities on Lakeside Union school campuses. This includes PE, lunch, recess, breaks, pick-up, and drop-off, etc.
CDPH also indicates that no one can be prevented from wearing a face-covering outdoors if they so choose.
While Indoors at A School Site
Per CDPH, face coverings are still required for all children and adults, regardless of vaccination status, while indoors at any Lakeside Union school campus.
What to Do If …
Included on this page is information on what to do if your child is experiencing the following scenarios:
- Is A Close Contact
- Is Experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms
- Tests Positive for COVID-19
Please reference the illustration provided by HHSA and the San Diego County Office of Education for further information.
What to Do If …
Your Child is a Close Contact of someone with COVID at an LUSD school or childcare setting (I.e ESS or CARE).
A close contact is defined as the following:
- Being with someone, for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period within 0-6 feet, who has received a lab-confirmed positive diagnosis for COVID 19 within the last 14 days.
- Providing care at home to someone who is sick with COVID 19
- Having direct physical contact with the person (hugged or kissed them)
- Sharing eating or drinking utensils
- Being sneezed on, coughed on, or somehow getting respiratory droplets on you from someone with COVID 19
Your child does not have to quarantine if …
- They Are NOT Exhibiting COVID-19 Symptoms; AND
- They have had COVID-19 within the last 90 days OR Are Fully Vaccinated* (*have received the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or two weeks or more after you have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson [J&J]/Janssen )).
If your child does not meet criteria 1 and 2, then you must take the following two steps immediately:
- Communicate the close contact to the school office.
- Work with school personnel to determine the Return to School option that is best for your child.
HHSA Return to School Criteria
*If the exposure occurred outside of the school setting (I.e. a club sport, youth program, family gathering, non-LUSD childcare, …etc.) there is only one quarantine option, 14 days.
The Remain in School, 7-Day, and 10-day Quarantine options are only available for exposures that took place in LUSD school/childcare settings.
Remain in School
Your child may remain in school (excluding after school programs and extracurricular activities) under the following conditions:
- Your child is not exhibiting COVID 19 symptoms AND
- Your child can wear a mask at all times in the school setting (indoors and outdoors) AND
- You can continue to monitor your child for COVID 19 symptoms through Day 14 AND
- Both parties were wearing masks during the close contact AND
- You can provide evidence of a negative COVID 19 test taken 2 times a week (each 3 or 4 days apart, with the last test on or after Day 5) and agree to continue to quarantine for all extracurricular activities at school including sports, and activities within the community setting through Day 7.
7 Day Quarantine
Your child may return to school on Day 8 (after exposure), after a 7-day quarantine, under the following conditions:
- Your child is not exhibiting COVID 19 symptoms AND
- Your child can wear a mask at all times in indoor settings AND
- You can continue to monitor your child for COVID 19 symptoms through Day 14 AND
- You can provide evidence of a negative COVID 19 test taken on day 6 or 7.
10 Day Quarantine
Your child may return to school on Day 11, after a 10-day quarantine, under the following conditions:
- Your child is not exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms; AND
- Your child can wear a mask at all times in indoor settings AND
- You can continue to monitor your child for COVID 19 symptoms through Day 14
Additional Requirements for Less Than a 14-Day Quarantine
- The student must continue daily self-monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms; AND
- Follow all recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions (e.g., wearing a mask indoors, hand washing, avoiding crowds) through Day 14 from last known exposure.
If you cannot meet the 4 above-mentioned criteria, you must quarantine for 14 days. If your child is experiencing symptoms of COVID 19, please see options under Your Child is Experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms
Your Child is a Close Contact of someone with COVID Outside of the LUSD School Setting (I.e. Club Sports, Family Member/Gathering, …etc.)
If the exposure occurred outside of the school setting (I.e. a club sport, youth program, family gathering, non-LUSD childcare, …etc.) two quarantine options are available:
7 Day Quarantine
Your child may return to school on Day 8 (after exposure), after a 7-day quarantine, under the following conditions:
- Your child is not exhibiting COVID 19 symptoms AND
- Your child can wear a mask at all times in indoor settings AND
- You can continue to monitor your child for COVID 19 symptoms through Day 14 AND
- You can provide evidence of a negative COVID 19 test taken on day 6 or 7.
10 Day Quarantine
Your child may return to school on Day 11, after a 10-day quarantine, under the following conditions:
- Your child is not exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms; AND
- Your child can wear a mask at all times in indoor settings AND
- You can continue to monitor your child for COVID 19 symptoms through Day 14
Your Child is Experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms
COVID-19 Symptoms include a cough, shortness of breath, headache, runny nose or congestion that cannot be contributed to another health condition, and/or you have symptoms such as fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or new loss of taste or smell.
You must take the following steps:
- Contact the school office immediately.
- Keep your child home until they fulfill one of the following return to school criteria.
HHSA Criteria to Return to School
- Provide proof of a Negative PCR COVID-19 Test, and allow for 24 hours after symptoms are resolved and 24 hours without fever or fever reducing medicine.
- In the event that the symptom is associated with a chronic illness, provide a signed note from a licensed MD/DO/NP/PA (who manages that condition). The signed note must confirm the chronic diagnosis, include the provider’s information, explain how the symptoms are unrelated to COVID-19, and be accompanied by a signed consent for the District to interact with MD/DO/NP/PA.
- In the event that you test positive on a PCR COVID-19 Test or do not take a PCR COVID-19 Test, you must isolate until you meet the following criteria:
- 24 hours without a fever (no meds) AND
- Symptoms are improving AND
- At least 10 days from symptom onset or test date
Your Child Tested Positive for COVID 19
You must take the following steps:
- Contact the school office immediately.
- Keep your child home until they fulfill one of the following return to school criteria.
HHSA Criteria to Return to School
You must isolate and you may return when you fulfill the following criteria:
- At least 10 days from symptom onset or test date AND
- 24 hours without a fever (no meds) AND
- Symptoms are improving
Please reference the illustration provided by HHSA and the San Diego County Office of Education for further information.