COVID-19 Updates
Keep checking this page for information regarding COVID-19 during the 23-24 school year.
New COVID-19 Guidelines
April 10, 2024
- The new isolation guidance recommends that people who have COVID-19 or another respiratory virus may return to normal activities when the following have been true for at least 24 hours:
- Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
- You have not had a fever (without having to use fever-reducing medication)
- When people return to normal activities, for 5 days, it is recommended that you wear a mask and take additional precautions such as taking steps to improve air flow and filtration, practicing good hand hygiene, cleaning regularly, physically distancing, and testing if accessible when they will be around others indoors.
- If you were positive for COVID-19: You can test on Day 5 or later and if you test negative, you no longer have to wear a mask.
COVID-19 Safety
Testing
Visit the following locations to get tested for COVID-19:
Quincy Community Health Center
Phone: (509) 787-8664
Address: 1450 1st Ave SW
Quincy , WA 98848
Appointment Needed: Yes
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Register for a test online at Appointment Request | Moses Lake Community Health Center (mlchc.org) or call (509) 787-8664
Quincy Valley Medical Center
Phone: 509-787-3531
Address: 908 Tenth Avenue Southwest
Quincy , WA 98848
Please call 509-787-3531 or 509-787-3531 for COVID-19 screening.
Walgreens
Cost: Yes, but may be covered by insurance
Drive-through: Yes
Appointment Needed: Yes
Masks
Should I get rid of my mask?
Please do not discard your masks at this point as the COVID-19 situation can change quickly. We ask that you hang on to your mask and cleaning supplies/sanitizers for a while longer as we monitor school and county cases and adjust requirements as necessary.
Are there places on school grounds where masks will still need to be worn?
Yes. These areas will be clearly marked so everyone can mask up before entering. These places include:
- Nurse/Health Room
- Isolation Room
- COVID-19 testing area
- Please refer to the exposure chart above for other places/times you may need to wear a mask
Are masks required on school buses?
Masks are NOT required on school buses, they are optional.
Can students still wear a mask indoors if they feel comfortable doing so or are health-compromised?
Yes. Anyone can continue to wear a mask if they prefer to do so or if they need to for personal or medical reasons. Quincy School District will continue to stress that the right to wear a mask shall be respected by all individuals within the Quincy community.
Vaccines
COVID Communication
What - Letter regarding new COVID 19 guidelines for the fall
When - Sent via Remind on August 25, 2022
Who - Sent to families
Dear Parents and Families,
Before the 2022-23 school year starts and we welcome students back into our buildings, I would like to share current information from the State Department of Health about COVID-19 health and safety guidance for schools this fall. Following these safety measures reduces the spread of COVID-19. This letter explains how the updated guidance impacts your family and the community.
DOH Health and Safety requirements for this fall:
- Students and staff who show symptoms of COVID-19 are required to stay home, and should get tested for COVID-19. Please click on the link above to review the “What to do if a Person is Symptomatic” flowchart.
- Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 are required to be isolated at home for 5 days. If symptoms improve after the 5th day and they have had no fever for the past 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, students and staff can come back to school. Testing is encouraged, but not required after your 5-day isolation period.
- It is recommended, but not required, that students and staff return to school after their 5 days of isolation:
- wear a well-fitted mask from days 6 to 10, and
- remain masked for sports and other extracurricular activities on days 6 to 10.
- Students and staff who choose to test and test positive after 5 days of isolation must stay at home for the full 10-day isolation period.
- Schools must inform students, families, and staff when there are cases or outbreaks in school. Schools are no longer required to directly notify high-risk students or staff. We will communicate cases and outbreaks to families via the Quincy School District website.
These requirements are in place for all public and private K-12 schools and childcare facilities in Washington state. Schools and childcare facilities are required by state law to follow these guidelines.
To reduce the spread of COVID-19, QSD offers free COVID-19 testing for staff and students at school. You can find more information about this program along with other testing locations on the district website.
Households are encouraged to test as needed at home. In Washington state, you can receive free self-tests from the Say Yes! COVID Test program. Most insurance covers the costs of up to 8 self-tests per individual per month.
COVID-19 vaccinations remain the best protection for everyone against hospitalization and severe disease from COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccine is now available for children 6 months and older. Booster doses are also available for children 5 years and older. You are encouraged to vaccinate your children if they are eligible, in consultation with your health care provider.
Please also welcome our two new QSD nurses, Shelley Story and Carrie Harris. Both nurses are going to be invaluable resources. For any questions you might have or more information, don't hesitate to contact Shelley Story at sstory@qsd.wednet.edu and Carrie Harris at charris@qsd.wednet.edu.
We look forward to creating safe and healthy spaces for our students when they return this fall.
Sincerely,
Dr. Nik Bergman, Superintendent
Estimados Padres y Familias,
Antes de que comience el año escolar 2022-23 y de que demos la bienvenida a los estudiantes a nuestros edificios, me gustaría compartir la información actual del Departamento de Salud del Estado sobre la guía de salud y seguridad del COVID-19 para las escuelas este otoño. Seguir estas medidas de seguridad reduce la propagación del COVID-19. Esta carta explica cómo la guía actualizada afecta a su familia y a la comunidad.
Requerimientos de salud y seguridad del DOH para este otoño:
- Los estudiantes y el personal que muestren síntomas de COVID-19 deben permanecer en casa, y deben hacerse la prueba de COVID-19. Por favor, haga clic en el enlace anterior para revisar el diagrama de proceso "Qué hacer si una persona es sintomática"
- Los alumnos y el personal que den positivo en la prueba de COVID-19 deberán permanecer aislados en casa durante 5 días. Si los síntomas mejoran después del 5º día y no han tenido fiebre durante las últimas 24 horas sin el uso de medicamentos antifebriles, los estudiantes y el personal pueden volver a la escuela. Se recomienda, pero no se exige, que se realicen pruebas después del período de aislamiento de 5 días.
- Se recomienda, pero no es obligatorio, que los estudiantes y el personal regresen a la escuela después de sus 5 días de aislamiento:
- lleven una máscara bien ajustada de los días 6 a 10, y
- permanezcan enmascarados para practicar deportes y otras actividades extraescolares durante los días 6 a 10.
- Los estudiantes y el personal que decidan hacerse la prueba y den positivo después de 5 días de aislamiento deben permanecer en casa durante el período completo de 10 días de aislamiento.
- Las escuelas deben informar a los estudiantes, las familias y el personal cuando haya casos o brotes en la escuela. Las escuelas ya no están obligadas a notificar directamente a los estudiantes o al personal de alto riesgo. Comunicaremos los casos y brotes a las familias a través del sitio web del Distrito Escolar de Quincy.
Estos requisitos se aplican a todas las escuelas públicas y privadas de grados K-12 y a las guarderías del estado de Washington. Las escuelas y guarderías están obligadas por la ley estatal a seguir estas directrices.
Para reducir la propagación de COVID-19, QSD ofrece pruebas gratuitas de COVID-19 para el personal y los estudiantes en la escuela. Usted puede encontrar más información sobre este programa junto con otros lugares de prueba en el sitio web del distrito.
Se anima a los hogares a que se hagan la prueba según sea necesario en casa. ¡En el estado de Washington, se pueden recibir pruebas para casa gratuitas del programa Say Yes! COVID. La mayoría de los seguros cubren los costes de hasta 8 pruebas para la casa por persona y mes.
Las vacunas contra la COVID-19 siguen siendo la mejor protección para todos contra la hospitalización y la enfermedad grave de la COVID-19. La vacuna COVID-19 ya está disponible para los niños de 6 meses en adelante. Las dosis de refuerzo también están disponibles para los niños de 5 años o mayores. Le animamos a que vacune a sus hijos si son elegibles, en consulta con su proveedor de atención médica.
Por favor, den la bienvenida a nuestras dos nuevas enfermeras de QSD, Shelly Story y Carrie Harris. Ambas enfermeras van a ser un recurso invaluable. Para cualquier pregunta que puedan tener o más información, no duden en contactar con Shelley Story en sstory@qsd.wednet.edu y Carrie Harris en charris@qsd.wednet.edu.
Esperamos crear espacios seguros y saludables para nuestros estudiantes cuando regresen este otoño.
Sinceramente,
Dr. Nik Bergman, Superintendente