January 27, 2022 Dear Parents and Guardians, On January 26, 2022, the Ohio Department of Health released updated COVID-19 contact tracing guidance for K-12 schools in Ohio. The guidance indicates K-12 schools can stop contact tracing related to COVID-19 effective immediately. The Licking County Health Department (LCHD) has been working with school administrators to implement this updated guidance. Schools will no longer provide our department with close contacts of cases of COVID-19, and our department will no longer be placing close contacts in quarantine. If your student has been placed in quarantine by LCHD in the past 10 days, their quarantine period is now over, and they can return to normal activities. Individuals that are close contacts to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask for 10 days after their exposure and monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19. Additionally, students and staff with COVID-19 symptoms should not attend school, and they should be tested. Anyone that tests positive for COVID-19 should stay home for 5 days. They can return to normal activities on the 6th day after their symptoms began as long as their symptoms are resolving, they do not have a fever, and they should wear a mask for 5 additional days. Our staff will continue to work with school administrators to assist with controlling the spread of COVID-19 in our schools, and we will recommend appropriate measures if they are warranted. We would like to thank all the parents and guardians in Licking County for your efforts to assist us with slowing the spread of COVID-19 within the school buildings in the county. One of our department’s priorities since the pandemic began has been to keep our schools open and in person, and with your help, we have been able to do so for two years. LCHD encourages anyone that is eligible to be vaccinated as the best defense against serious illness and death from COVID-19. Our walk-in clinic is open Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:00AM-12:00PM and 2:00PM-4:00PM, appointments are not needed. Sincerely, Chad Brown, MPH, REHS Licking County Health Commissioner |