Image of Close Contact with No Exposure

Carthage ISD has been dealing with COVID-19 since March and has been following the reporting protocols as they have been released by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).  Each week, we learn more from this virus and do our best to make adjustments to meet the ever-changing needs caused by this virus.  This post is intended to further clarify the district's protocols as given by the TEA.  

When a student is in close contact with a student that is infected with COVID, the student will have to quarantine at home for 14 days.   CISD has been following this protocol since July 2020.

In general, close contact is defined as:

  • a. being directly exposed to infectious secretions (e.g., being coughed on); or 

  • b. being within 6 feet for a cumulative duration of 15 minutes; however, additional factors like case/contact masking (i.e., both the infectious individual and the potential close contact have been consistently and properly masked), ventilation, presence of dividers, and case symptomology may affect this determination.

  • c. Watch this video (CLICK HERE) for more explanation

Either (a) or (b) defines close contact if it occurred during the infectious period of the case, defined as two days prior to symptom onset to 10 days after symptom onset. In the case of asymptomatic individuals who are lab-confirmed with COVID-19, the infectious period is defined as two days prior to the confirming lab test and continuing for 10 days following the confirming lab test.

To help our students stay safe and stay in school, we are reiterating our safety protocols as provided by the Texas Education Agency.  They can be found on our COVID Response Plan.

  • Parents must screen their children before sending them to school. In some cases, those who were identified with COVID-19 displayed symptoms days before a diagnosis. If the students had stayed home, no other students would have been required to go home to quarantine due to close contact.

  • Students, 10 years and older (5th - 12th grades) are expected to wear face masks during the school day.  According to TEA protocols, wearing a mask protects other students from being exposed to COVID-19 and being required to quarantine for 14 days.

  • Students who are less than 6 feet apart for more than 15 minutes should wear a mask.  According to TEA protocols, wearing a mask protects other students from being exposed to COVID-19 and being required to quarantine for 14 days.

  • NEW - Students sitting in close contact with a student who chooses not to wear a mask can request to be moved away from the unmasked student in order to be protected from potential close contact exposure.  

  • NEW - Teachers may move students who are not wearing masks anywhere in the room in order to protect students and staff members who are wearing their masks from potentially close contact exposure.

It is the mission of Carthage ISD to provide EVERY student with a first class education in a safe environment with all the necessary resources to guarantee every student's academic, emotional, and social success.  These rules that we have been given by TEA are the rules we will follow.  As they change, we will inform students and staff.  If you have questions, please contact your child's nurse or administrator.