Plano ISD plans to implement new coronavirus guidance next year that may shorten the amount of time an individual must quarantine following potential exposure to COVID-19.
PISD announced Dec. 14 that it would revise the definition of a "close contact" and change the district’s quarantine policy effective Jan. 1. The updates are being made in collaboration with the Collin County Health Services Department and the district’s public health authority Dr. Mark Gamber. This move aligns district policy with recent updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the Texas Education Agency, according to the district.
When the new semester begins Jan. 4, close contact will be defined as “being within 6-feet of an infectious person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more during a 24-hour period,” though factors such as consistent and proper masking could affect that determination. Proper masking is defined as when “both the infectious individual and potential close contact are wearing a multi-layer face mask that covers the nose and mouth and fits around the nose and chin.”
The revised quarantine period for those considered to have been in close contact with an infectious person will be 10 days. The current policy calls for a 14-day quarantine and requires the student or faculty member to complete the COVID-19 Student Reporting Form.
