Texas schools are not required to notify families of COVID-19 cases

Texas schools will not have to notify parents of COVID-19 cases in students and teachers, according to a new public health guide from the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

If a student, teacher or employee tests positive for COVID-19, they will have to isolate themselves and will not be able to go to school. However, it is not mandatory to do a contact tracing, or “contact tracing” to determine who was in contact with the infected.

“Because the 2020-2021 data showed very low levels of transmission in classrooms and because the data shows that transmission levels are lower among children than in adults, schools are not required to track covid-19 cases ”, read the TEA guide.

Children who know that they are close contacts of someone infected with COVID-19, will be able to opt for an online educational modality for up to 10 days after their contact and will be able to return to school sooner if they have a negative test.

Children who have a positive covid-19 test will be able to request online instruction for up to 20 days with the possibility of increasing the days if necessary through special permission, according to a remote study release from TEA.

Despite the TEA decision, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned in its guide for schools that the protection of children must be of the utmost importance due to the increase in cases of the delta variant.

“Since this variant is more contagious in nature, in schools there will be a mix of vaccinated and unvaccinated people, children under the age of 12 cannot be vaccinated, and low levels of vaccination among people 12 to 17 years old, the CDC recommends the universal use of face masks ”, read the CDC guide.

The use of face masks will not be mandatory either. In the guidance released Aug. 5, the TEA references Governor Greg Abbott’s mandate, saying that schools cannot require any student or employee to wear a mask. However, whoever wants to use it can do so.

“Schools should allow individuals to wear a mask if they choose to do so,” the guide reads.

If a person attending school tests positive for COVID-19, it is their responsibility to notify their local health department. According to the guide, schools, for their part, must send a report every Monday that informs the Department of Health and Human Services of the State of Texas (TDHS) of any teacher, employee, student or visitor who tests positive for COVID -19.

Children who are infected with covid-19 will not be able to attend school until the TDHS readmission requirements. If the infection is symptomatic, the student must be excluded for at least 10 days after presenting the first symptoms. The student must also have a temperature below 100 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 24 hours without the aid of medication.

Asymptomatic students must remain excluded from school for at least 10 days after receiving their positive test.

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