Safety Protocols and Guidance

Masking | Limited Building Access | Quarantine and Isolation | Leave related to COVID-19 | Vaccination Information | Testing Resources | How to Apply for Leave

 

Masking

Updated 2/28/22

We are updating our safety guidance to strongly recommending (rather than expecting) masking for all adults and students in our schools and district office sites. This change will take effect Tuesday, March 1.

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Building Access

• We will lift our visitor restrictions to allow volunteers - including parents and guardians who are volunteering - to enter our buildings. Volunteers must follow our safety protocols, and all parents and volunteers should understand the school practices.

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Quarantine 

• Starting Monday, Jan. 3, we will align our isolation and quarantine practices with the CDC’s recent update of the recommended isolation and quarantine period. 

• Individuals who have tested positive should isolate for five days. If they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), individuals may return to school followed by five days of wearing a mask when around others. 

• For individuals who have been exposed, we will continue to not require quarantining. Students and team members may choose to self-quarantine if they have been exposed. 

• Symptomatic or positive students or team members should stay at home and monitor their symptoms.

Isolation protocols

• Isolation is used to separate people infected with COVID-19 from those who are not infected.
• People who are in isolation should stay home until it’s safe for them to be around others. At home, anyone sick or infected should separate from others, stay in a specific “sick room” or area, and use a separate bathroom (if available).
• What to do:
  • Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately.
  • Stay in a separate room from other household members, if possible.
  • Use a separate bathroom, if possible.
  • Avoid contact with other members of the household and pets.
  • Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
  • Wear a mask when around other people if able. 

Frequently asked questions:

Q: If someone tested positive, in our current guidelines, do they need a negative test to return?
A: In short, if the individual has isolated for 5 days, they have been fever free with symptoms in clear decline and improvement, AND they wear their mask diligently, they can return on day six without a negative test.

Q: Can someone return from isolation with a runny nose?
A: The individual’s symptoms have to be in clear decline and improvement after their five day isolation. As long as this is the case AND they are fever free without medication for 24 hours AND they are diligently wearing their masks for day 6-10, then they may return.

Q: If a spouse/family member tests positive, does the team member need to quarantine?
A: Based on our November 29, 2021 update, we currently are not requiring quarantine for any close contact exposures, this includes (potential) exposures outside of our buildings. Individuals who have been exposed and are asymptomatic will not be required to stay home to quarantine. A team member will have to quarantine if they begin to have symptoms.

Q: If someone self-quarantines, when do they have to return?
A: Individuals who are exposed can select to self-quarantine for 5 days and return on day 6. It is recommended for known exposures to get tested at least 5 days after the exposure. If a person develops COVID-19 symptoms and/or tests positive, they will have to isolate.

Q: When does my day 0 begin? From symptom onset or date of positive test?
A: If a person begins symptoms before testing positive, then day 0 of the isolation period will begin on the date of symptom onset. If there were no symptoms prior to testing positive, then we will take the date of the positive test result as day 0. For example: Person A started noticing a runny nose and a fever on January 1st. Person A goes to get tested on January 2nd and comes back with a positive test. Day 0 will start on January 1st and day five will be January 6th. Person B has no symptoms, but gets a test, and tested positive on January 5th. Day 0 will be on January 5th and day five will be January 10th.

Q: What about individuals who test positive? Do they still wear a mask from day 6-10? 
A: Individuals who have tested positive must continue to follow the isolation requirements to isolate for 5 days and wear a mask on days 6-10.

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Leave related to COVID-19

COVID leave will not be available to staff this year. Vaccinated employees may use their available paid emergency leave days before being required to use or exhaust their own paid leave accruals if they need to miss work for the following reasons and their supervisor determines that telework isn't possible:

i) they are ill with COVID-19 and/or must isolate because they have tested positive for COVID-19 (usually 10 days from onset of symptoms or from the positive test date if asymptomatic);

ii) their child who is under age18 must isolate because the minor child has tested positive for COVID-19, or must quarantine because they have been exposed to COVID-19, and the child cannot go to school or their normal place of care during isolation or quarantine, and the employee is needed to care for the child;

iii) their child under age 18's school is closed for reasons due to COVID-19 and the employee needs to care for their child

iv) the district directs the employee to stay home from work (i.e., quarantine) because the employee has been exposed to COVID-19; or

 v) the employee needs time off to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, or the employee is feeling unwell the day of or the day after, receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

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Vaccination Information

Bivalent COVID-19 Boosters

Updated (bivalent) COVID boosters are now available to most adults as of September 2, 2022. The updated boosters protect against both the original virus that causes COVID-19 and two Omicron variants. CDC recommends that people ages 5 years and older receive one updated (bivalent) booster if it has been at least 2 months since their last COVID-19 vaccine dose. People who have gotten more than one original (monovalent) booster are also recommended to get an updated (bivalent) booster. Visit the Tulsa Health Department’s website to schedule your booster today.

Additional Testing Resources
You can now place an order for a second round of free at-home COVID-19 tests from USPS by clicking here.
Tulsa Health Department Testing Pods (By Appointment Only) North Regional Health and Wellness Center  5635 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Tulsa, OK 74126 South Testing Location 8414 E 101st St. S., Tulsa, OK 74133	For Appointments Call: 918-582-9355 Schedule Appointment Online
Additional FREE Testing Sites (By Appointment Only) OU-Tulsa  4502 E. 41st St, Tulsa, OK 74135 918-619-4980 - Testing is by appointment only. Hours: Monday & Thursday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. OU-Tulsa Wayman Tisdale Specialty Health Clinic 591 E. 36th St N, Tulsa, OK 74106 918-619-4980 - Testing is by appointment only. Hours: Monday & Thursday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.   OSU Center for Health Sciences 1111 W 17th St, Tulsa, OK 74107 918-281-2750-Testing is by appointment only Hours: Monday - Friday at 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.	OSU Center for Health Sciences Schedule Online Appointment
For testing statewide, visit the Oklahoma State Department of Health

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How to Apply for Leave

The first thing you should do is tell your supervisor about your need for leave and the specific reason you need leave. Your supervisor will talk with you and discuss whether there may be any reasonable options that will work for you instead of leave.

If you do need to apply for leave, you can do so by completing the Tulsa Public Schools COVID-19 Employee Leave of Absence Request form.