Will the school ask parents to disclose any use of public transportation, travel outside of Austin or participation in large-group gatherings (e.g., worship services, family reunions, club sports)?

Updated on Oct. 28, 2020
The scenarios for these types of activities are too numerous to address in a single response; but generally speaking, they create the potential to increase the spread of the virus. Following is the guidance we offer to employees and students about travel outside of Austin, use of public transportation and large-group gatherings.

Students and employees who travel on public transportation during the school year (e.g. airplane, bus, train, taxi, rideshare, cruise), are unable to practice safety guidelines while on break/vacation, or participate in large-group gatherings should consult with the Health Center before returning to campus. Those individuals may be required to self-quarantine for 14 days while monitoring their health carefully for signs of exposure before returning to campus. They should be prepared to engage in remote learning/working during that time.

If you would like to discuss whether your planned travel, use of public transportation or participation in large-group gatherings might trigger a quarantine, please contact Gretchen Inman (ginman@sstx.org), director of our Health Center, to discuss the specifics of your planned activities so she can give you proper guidance.

In addition to the above guidance regarding travel outside Austin, use of public transportation and participation in larger-group gatherings, the school has stated the following duty to disclose guidelines for students and parents. If an individual comes in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19 or is in close contact with someone who exhibits symptoms consistent with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis (e.g. an individual yet to be tested or waiting on results), the individual must remain off campus until a 14-day incubation period has passed. On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the CDC issued a new definition of close contact as part of its overall COVID-19 guidelines. Close contact is now defined as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated. This kind of close physical contact can create direct exposure to infectious secretions.

If anyone in a student’s or employee’s household has been in close contact with individuals who test positive for COVID 19 or is in close contact with someone who exhibits symptoms consistent with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, a parent/guardian of the student or the employee is obligated immediately to inform St. Stephen’s Director of Health Services, Gretchen Inman (ginman@sstx.org) so the school can decide if the student/employee needs to isolate for 14 days and communicate with anyone who may have been exposed.

Back