February 5, 2021

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:

We learned that an individual at Carrie Downie Elementary School has tested positive for COVID-19. This individual was last on campus on Thursday, February 4th.

This individual will not return to school until the isolation period has passed. Anyone who has been in
close contact with the individual has been contacted and may be required to complete a quarantine
before returning to school. Individual decisions on quarantining are made in consultation with the affected individual and DPH epidemiologists and may depend on whether the individual was wearing a mask.

Please visit https://coronavirus.delaware.gov to learn more about DPH protocols around positive COVID-19 cases in schools.

We always encourage you to monitor your child for any symptoms of COVID-19. If a student or staff member is sick with any of the following symptoms, stay home: fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, chills, shaking with chills, loss of smell or taste, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, or headache or congestion or runny nose without a known cause such as allergies. Our school nurses are available to support your family by reviewing symptoms to watch for, answering questions you may have, assisting with follow up communications, and providing further information on available testing sites. COVID-19 testing is free and available in our local community.

DPH encourages all Delawareans – whether you are experiencing symptoms or not – to consider getting a free test. That will help our state more accurately track the spread of the disease and keep our communities healthy.

Visit https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/testing/ for the latest updates on COVID-19 in Delaware and information on free COVID-19 testing in Delaware.

Colonial School District continues to adhere to strict cleaning, social distancing, and hygiene protocols. This is our best defense against COVID-19 and its spread. District custodial staff are informed of the positive cases as appropriate and are following prescribed protocols for cleaning in accordance with the most up-to-date health guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and DPH.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your building administrative team.

Sincerely,
Jon Cooper, EdD
District COVID-19 Coordinator

COVID-19 Student and Staff Health Assessment Screening Tool

Colonial students and staff who are on site during the COVID-19 outbreak must perform a self-screening at home BEFORE reporting to the building each day.

Please answer the following questions.

In the past 14 days, have you been near (within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes) a person who has a lab confirmed case of COVID-19, or have you had direct contact with their mucus or saliva?

In the last 48 hours, have you had any of the following symptoms?
Fever of 100.4 F or above (or symptoms like alternating shivering and sweating)
New cough
New trouble breathing, shortness of breath or severe wheezing
New chills or shaking with chills
New muscle aches
Sore throat
Vomiting or diarrhea
New loss of smell or taste, or a change in taste
Nausea
Fatigue
Headache, congestion or runny nose with no other known cause (such as allergies)

If you answered YES to any of the questions above, do NOT report to the building today. Staff should contact their supervisor and doctor.
Students/Parents should contact their school nurse.

This screening tool was adapted from the DHSS COVID-19 Staff Health
Assessment Self-Screening Tool