Washington Unified School District - COVID-19 Staff Resources

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COVID-19 Staff Resources

STAFF UPDATE APRIL 12, 2023

Cal/OSHA has changed their COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations FAQs as of March 13, 2023. Please note the FAQ section titled “CDPH Isolation and Quarantine”.

What does this mean for staff?

Employees who test positive for COVID-19 must be excluded from the workplace for at least 5 days after start of symptoms or after date of first positive test if no symptoms. Isolation can end and employees may return to the workplace after day 5 if symptoms are not present or are mild and resolving; AND the employee is fever-free for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medication. Employees must wear face coverings around others for a total of 10 days.

*The information in the paragraph above comes directly from the Cal/OSHA FAQs, linked above.

After five days, if you are feeling better and are fever-free, you may return to work without needing first to send in negative test results.

Masks and COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits are available at every school and work site upon request.

Please continue to report positive test results to Human Resources (slopez@wusd.k12.ca.us or bjhatu@wusd.k12.ca.us). Information about close contacts will be collected at that time, and you will be provided with a timeline for your return to work.

STAFF UPDATE FEBRUARY 27, 2023

This is an overview of recent changes to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulation that went into effect February 3, 2023. These recently approved regulations have a few changes on how COVID-19 employee cases are managed.

The definition of “close contact” has been updated:

Updates/changes:

In indoor spaces of 400,000 or fewer cubic feet per floor, a close contact is defined as sharing the same indoor airspace as a COVID-19 case for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period during a COVID-19 case's infectious period.
In large indoor spaces greater than 400,000 cubic feet per floor, a close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of the COVID-19 case for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period during the COVID-19 case's infectious period.
Offices, suites, rooms, waiting areas, break or eating areas, bathrooms or other spaces that are separated by floor-to-ceiling walls are considered distinct indoor airspaces.

The recommendation for testing for COVID-19 after an exposure has changed:

Previously, all asymptomatic individuals who were exposed to a COVID-positive individual were required to test for COVID-19 3 to 5 days after exposure, unless the exposed individual had tested positive within the 90 days before a COVID-19 exposure.

This timeline has been shortened so that all asymptomatic individuals who have been exposed to a COVID-positive individual are recommended to test for COVID-19 3 to 5 days after exposure, unless the exposed individual has tested positive for COVID-19 within the past thirty (30) days.

Benefits available to employees:

As mentioned in our previous communication, with the expiration of the Cal/OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard, exclusion pay is no longer available to employees. If you believe you have contracted COVID-19 in the workplace, you may file a workers compensation claim. Please contact Salvador Lopez (slopez@wusd.k12.ca.us) if you would like to file a claim. You may also qualify for disability; please contact your disability insurance provider for more information.

Changes to requirements for individuals who test positive for COVID-19 and those who have been identified as a close contact:

- We would like to remind you that updated requirements and recommendations will now follow the CDPH tables found in the frequently asked questions (FAQs) section of the COVID-19 Prevention regulations found on the CAL/OSHA website. Please refer to Table 1 and Table 2.
  - Please note that the tables above apply in general cases of COVID-positive individuals and exposures. In the case of a major outbreak (20 or more cases in a worksite), additional measures such as required twice weekly testing and masking, may apply. This information will be distributed on a case by case basis.

What does this mean for WUSD employees?

Should you need test kits or masks, WUSD will continue to provide test kits and masks for employees as requested. Please contact your immediate supervisor if you are in need of these items.

In the event that you test positive for COVID-19, please contact Human Resources (slopez@wusd.k12.ca.us or bjhatu@wusd.k12.ca.us) and we will gather information from you such as your first date of symptoms, the date you tested positive, any close contacts you may have had during your infectious period, and the requirements for returning to work. You may also ask questions about what leave may be available to you.

If you are identified as a close contact to a positive individual, it is recommended that you mask for 10 days after exposure and test 3-5 days after exposure if you remain asymptomatic. If you develop symptoms, it is recommended you isolate and test for COVID-19 before returning to work.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home and test for COVID-19 before coming to work. If you test negative and your symptoms persist, CDPH recommends you remain isolated at home and test again in 1-2 days. If you test positive, please contact Human Resources (slopez@wusd.k12.ca.us or bjhatu@wusd.k12.ca.us).

If you have concerns about COVID-19 safety conditions or COVID-19 hazards, please contact your supervisor immediately. You may also contact Human Resources (slopez@wusd.k12.ca.us or bjhatu@wusd.k12.ca.us).

To read more about these changes, please see the Cal/OSHA update on what employers need to know, here.

Last updated october 20, 2022

Washington Unified School District continues to work closely with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Cal/OSHA and Yolo County Health and Human Services officials regarding COVID-19 Protocols. As we get further direction we will continue to make adjustments as necessary for all symptomatic or exposed students and staff.

The following information is being provided as an update including the latest information from Cal/OSHA ETS (Emergency Temporary Standards) FAQs, most recently updated October 13, 2022. These updated FAQ’s provide clarification that employees can qualify for exclusion pay, separate from SB-114-provided supplemental leave, when either the employee is testing positive for COVID-19 or becomes symptomatic following a workplace exposure.

MASKING:

Masking with a high-quality mask, such as an N95, KN95 or KN94, although not required, may be recommended based on the current COVID-19 levels in Yolo County. If you choose to wear a mask, please request one from your school or department office.

NOTIFICATION OF EXPOSURE:

As we are notified of positive COVID-19 cases, staff who are identified as close contacts will be notified. Close contacts are defined as individuals sharing an indoor space (under 400,000 cubic feet) with a positive case for 15 or more cumulative minutes in a 24 hour period during the positive individual’s infectious period. Additionally, schools will send out school-wide notifications of positive cases on campus and WUSD will be updating its COVID-19 dashboard regularly.

GUIDANCE FOR SYMPTOMATIC AND/OR EXPOSED INDIVIDUALS:

If you have been exposed to a COVID-positive individual or develop COVID-19 symptoms, please contact Jenna Raski (jraski@wusd.k12.ca.us) immediately. Cal/OSHA issued isolation guidance for employees, last updated May 6, 2022. Please follow the guidance below (in the tables) if you have been exposed to COVID-19.

If at any point you develop COVID-19 symptoms, please take the following steps immediately before continuing at or returning to work:

Let your supervisor know you have developed symptoms
Contact Jenna in Human Resources to discuss your options including requirements for returning to work as well as potential leave and exclusion pay that you qualify for.

ISOLATION GUIDANCE FOR POSITIVE INDIVIDUALS:

Cal/OSHA issued isolation guidance for employees, last updated May 6, 2022. Please follow the guidance in the tables below if you test positive for COVID-19. If you test positive for COVID, please send a time stamped photo of your positive test results to Jenna Raski (jraski@wusd.k12.ca.us) immediately.

COVID-19 SUPPLEMENTAL PAID SICK LEAVE:

An allotment of COVID-19 Supplemental Sick Leave was provided per SB 114. A summary of SB 114 can be found here. This allotment was originally provided from the time period of January 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022. Per AB 152, this allotment has been extended until December 31, 2022.

EXCLUSION PAY:

An employee that is excluded from work because of workplace exposure under the ETS is eligible for exclusion pay. The Cal/OSHA ETS (Emergency Temporary Standards) FAQs, most recently updated October 13, 2022, include information on exclusion pay and benefits employees can access if they are excluded from work because of a workplace COVID-19 exposure.

In order to use these leaves, please reach out to Jenna Raski (jraski@wusd.k12.ca.us) in Human Resources for assistance as soon as you believe your absence qualifies. As is our practice, enter your absence in Frontline Absence Management under sick leave as soon as you know you will be out. Through required documentation (i.e. timestamped positive test results, vaccine verification, etc.) and information gathered your absence will be adjusted appropriately.

If you have any other COVID-related concerns, including COVID-19 related hazards, please email your supervisor and/or Jenna Raski (jraski@wusd.k12.ca.us) immediately.