COVID Response 2024-25
COVID Disease Response
Updated August 31, 2023
In an effort to return to a more routine disease response to COVID, the Colorado Department of Public Health (CDPHE) has simplified and aligned previous CDC guidance. In March, CDPHE transitioned to a Routine Disease Response, meaning individual case investigation, contact tracing, and notifications of exposure were no longer recommended in K-12 settings by CDC or CDPHE.
In the coming weeks, CDPHE will release updated guidance that will focus on monitoring for increases in cases and absenteeism, reminding staff, students, and parents to stay home when sick, staying up to date with vaccinations, testing if symptomatic, and isolating if positive for COVID.
As we did long before the pandemic, schools will continue to work closely with school nurses and our local public health agency, The Douglas County Health Department, when increases in cases and/or outbreaks are detected to determine the best mitigation strategies to control disease transmission and preserve in-person learning.
2023-2024 Guidance for DCSD Schools (PreK-12):
- COVID response will be treated like a routine illness (CDPHE Routine Disease Control).
- If a student is positive for COVID, please enter it into the attendance log, like any other illness.
- Monitor student absences for increased cases of communicable diseases, including COVID, and report to your nurse.
- Staff will not require testing for students or staff to return to school after an illness. DCSD is not monitoring testing or vaccination status for students or staff.
- The state and local health departments ask that people voluntarily cooperate with isolation and quarantine instructions - school staff are not required to monitor or enforce.
- There is no requirement for staff or students who have been exposed to COVID to stay home and quarantine. However, if they are symptomatic it should be treated like a routine illness (see above).
- There is no longer a declared public health emergency for COVID. This means that employees no longer have PHEL balances and should utilize their other leave balances accordingly if needed.
Douglas County School District will continue with the following illness mitigation measures: air purifiers, ventilation, hand washing, and routine cleaning procedures in schools.