The process of notifying our community when there is a COVID-19 case on campus is more complex than might appear. Due to privacy concerns, contact tracing intricacies, and a variety of other factors, each case is handled individually. The following table roughly summarizes the protocols Peak to Peak will follow based on the guidance provided by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Please see this linked Quarantine and Isolation guidance document from BVSD Health Services.

The selected excerpts below are taken from detailed guidance provided by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) on this page of their website and in this document provided by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Similar information is also available on the BVSD Health and Safety Precautions page. 

Confirmed case: a case in a person who has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus using certain laboratory tests (usually PCR).

Probable case: A case in a person who has COVID-like symptoms without another diagnosis. Public health will help assign the case a definition using the Colorado COVID-19 case and outbreak definitions.

School outbreak-associated case: a confirmed or probable case among students/teachers/staff that meet the outbreak definition should be classified as outbreak-associated. Family members or others outside the school who get sick should not be classified as outbreak-associated.

Close contact: a person who:

• was within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 (even if they did not have symptoms) for at least 15 minutes total.
• provided care for someone who is sick with COVID-19.
• had direct physical contact with someone who is sick with COVID-19.
• shared eating or drinking utensils with someone who is sick with COVID-19.
• got exposed to respiratory droplets from someone who is sick with COVID-19 (through sneezing, coughing, shouting, etc.).
• was in the same class/cohort as a person with COVID-19.

Confirmed outbreak: If one or more criteria below are met, there is a confirmed outbreak. Outbreak response will vary by criteria met. All confirmed outbreaks will be posted on the CDPHE website at covid19.colorado.gov/data/outbreak-data.

1. Classroom/cohort outbreak: Three or more confirmed COVID-19 cases among students/teachers/staff from separate households, with onset within 14 days in a single classroom or cohort. 

3. Staff outbreak: Two or more teachers/staff with confirmed COVID-19 who are close contacts within the school setting, with onset within 14 days.

 Suspected outbreak definition: If one or more criteria below are met, there is a suspected outbreak. Outbreak response will vary by criteria met. Suspected outbreaks are not currently posted to the CDPHE website linked above.

1. Classroom/cohort outbreak: One confirmed COVID-19 case and one or more people sick with COVID-like symptoms among students/teachers/staff from separate households with onset within 14 days in a single classroom or cohort.

2. Single confirmed COVID-19 cases in two or more classrooms.

3. 10% absenteeism (among expected in-person students/staff) in the whole school for any reason.

Isolation: staying home from work, school, and/or activities when a person is sick or diagnosed with COVID-19. Isolation lasts for at least 10 days after the onset of symptoms, 24 hours fever-free without fever-reducing medication, and an improvement of symptoms. For people who have not had symptoms, isolation lasts 10 days from the day they had their first positive test. In rare instances, (for example, if a person was very sick or has certain medical problems), isolation may last 20 days. Public health experts do not recommend repeat testing to decide when to end the period of isolation except in rare circumstances in consultation with a medical provider.

Quarantine: staying home from work, school, and/or activities after a person was in close contact with someone with COVID-19. Quarantine lasts for 14 days (unless the person develops symptoms, then they will be put in isolation). Negative testing does not release a person from quarantine.