Respiratory Illness Guidelines

Orono Schools is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for each employee, student, parent and visitor to our buildings. These guidelines identify and explain the practices and protocols to help ensure that the District has a healthy learning environment and helps mitigate transmission of communicable diseases and illness in our school community.

All staff, students, families and visitors are expected to comply with and follow district-established guidelines and protocols for the health and safety of our community. Site leaders and supervisors will comply with these provisions and support employees, as needed.

*** UPDATE: October, 2024: Pertussis (Whooping Cough) has been reported among students in our community. Please click here to learn more about Pertussis. ***

Safe Learning Plan

The District considers the health and safety of students and staff to be a top priority. Below are the safe return to learning guidelines that we have instituted to provide a healthy environment for all.

Staying Home When Sick

Staying home when sick can lower the risk of spreading infectious diseases, respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, to other people.

People who have symptoms of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, such as cough, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, or a fever of 100 degrees or higher, should stay home. Testing is recommended for people with symptoms of COVID-19 as soon as possible after symptoms begin. Possible COVID-19 symptoms include (but are not limited to):

Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea

COVID-19 Symptoms, Spread & Prevention

Testing for COVID-19 | Free Test Kits

How Do I Report a COVID-Positive Case?

If a student or staff member is notified of a positive COVID-19 case during the regular school year, the following process should occur:

If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they should notify the health office of the school that they attend. The district nurse and administrative team will determine if notification notices need to be sent out and if so, to whom.

Isolation Requirements for COVID-Positive Cases

A student or staff member who tests positive for COVID-19 should isolate at home and away from others until at least 24 hours after both their symptoms are getting better overall, and they have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Note that depending on the length of symptoms, this period could be shorter, the same or longer than the previous guidance for COVID-19.

Per the CDC, it is important to note that the guidance doesn't end with staying home and away from others when sick. The guidance encourages added precaution over the next five days after time at home, away from others, is over. SInce some people remain contagious beyond the "stay-a-home" period, a period of added precaution using prevention strategies, such as:

enhancing hygiene practices;
wearing a well-fitting mask;
keeping a distance from others; and/or
getting tested for respiratory viruses can lower the chance of spreading respiratory viruses to others.

Guidelines for preventing respiratory viruses

Close contact or exposure to COVID-19

You can spread COVID-19 to others starting a couple days before you have any symptoms, and even if you never have symptoms. If you spend time close to someone with COVID-19, you may have it too, but you may not know it. It is important to follow the isolation requirements above to keep from spreading the virus to others, even if you have been vaccinated or have already had COVID-19.

Please review the following information for additional mitigation strategies.

Face Coverings

Immunizations

Promoting Good Hygiene & Health Behaviors

Students who are ill should stay home.
Staff who are ill should stay home.
Anyone who is awaiting COVID-19 test results should stay home.
Regular cleaning and disinfection of our learning spaces and vehicles will continue and they will be cleaned and disinfected regularly using disinfectant products that are approved and effective against viruses, including COVID-19.
Students and staff are encouraged to wash their hands often throughout the day with soap and water. If soap and water are not readily available, they should use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Appropriate supplies to support healthy hygiene behaviors (e.g., soap, hand sanitizer, paper towels, disinfectant) will be available and strategically placed in areas where they can be/are frequently used.
Schools will build routines of hand hygiene into the daily school schedule for all students and staff.

Hand Hygiene & Respiratory Etiquette

The District will provide appropriate supplies in our schools and buildings to support healthy hygiene behaviors (such as soap, hand sanitizer, paper towels, disinfectant wipes, tissues)
Washing hands can help prevent the spread of infectious diseases. The District supports hand washing during key times, such as:
- before, during, and after preparing or eating food
- after using the bathroom
- after blowing one’s nose, coughing, or sneezing

Ventilation

The district is committed to providing reliable and safe heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and has implemented enhanced protocols in response to the pandemic. Our strategic partners from IEA and Wold Architects and Engineers have provided guidance and assurance that the District’s systems are operating in a manner that will protect students, staff and visitors to our buildings. The district constantly monitors those systems to ensure they are performing to meet the current ASHRAE and CDC guidelines, providing the healthiest environment for everyone.