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Novato Unified School District

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COVID

September 2024

Novato Unified School District’s COVID resource page focuses on the health and safety of all staff and students. Our strategies follow guidance from Marin Health & Human Services and the California Department of Public Health.

 

NUSD COVID RESPONSE

  • Pay attention to symptoms and stay home when you have a fever and/or feel ill.
  • Stay home if you have COVID-19 symptoms, until you have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication AND other COVID-19 symptoms are mild and improving. (Staying home for 5 days is no longer required.)
  • Masking recommendations have not changed. All individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 and all individuals with respiratory symptoms should wear a mask around others when indoors for 5 days from when symptoms started or the positive test date (if no symptoms).
  • For Staff (per Cal/OSHA): Staff are required to mask for 10 days from symptom onset or positive test date (if no symptoms) upon return to work.

Vaccinations

COVID-19 vaccines continue to be remarkably effective in reducing the risk of severe disease and hospitalization.  

For the most up-to-date information about vaccines, please visit the Marin Health & Human Services webpage.

To schedule a vaccination appointment, please visit MyTurn California Sitemyturn.ca.gov.

Masking

Marin County Public Health will update recommendations and/or requirements for indoor masking based on local COVID-19 case rates, test positivity, and hospitalization data; evidence of heightened in-school transmission; and circulating variant characteristics.

  • Masks, particularly high-quality and well-fitting masks, remain highly effective, inexpensive, and are dynamic tools to protect oneself and mitigate transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory pathogens.
  1. Required Actions:

No person can be prevented from wearing a mask as a condition of participation in an activity or entry into a school, unless wearing a mask would pose a safety hazard (e.g., water sports).

Schools have developed and implemented local protocols to provide masks to students who inadvertently fail to bring a face covering to school and desire to use one.

  1. Recommended Actions:

Unless otherwise directed by local health departments or local educational agencies, students and staff should follow CDPH masking guidance for the general public, as well was masking guidance for specific situations referenced below (e.g., when having symptoms, being infected, or exposed).

As we have throughout the pandemic, Novato Unified School District will follow the recommendations of Marin Health and Human Services (MHHS) and the California Department of Public Health.

Illness and Quarantine

We use the Marin County COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Guidance for TK-12 Schools, Child Care, Youth Programs/Activities, and Household/Community Exposures document to determine when to stay home and when to return to school. Families may refer to this for guidance regarding how long to stay home from school when ill, and what to do if a household member is exposed to someone with, or contracts, COVID-19.

Over the counter Rapid Antigen Tests are available for all students and staff in the front office of every school.

Safety Protocols

We continue to implement our Safety Protocols that were in place during the 2021-22 school year, including cleaning and disinfecting practices, and air filtration systems.  Staff will continue to have access to cleaning supplies and every classroom is furnished with high-quality air filtration systems.

  • High-efficiency MERV-13 filters installed in HVAC systems
  • Food-safe sanitizing spray for all classrooms
  • Outdoor learning areas
  • Regular cleaning procedures
  • HEPA Air Purifiers in each classroom

NUSD COVID-19 Testing Plan

Senate Bill 1479 requires the California Department of Public Health to coordinate COVID-19 testing plans and services.  SB 1479 also requires districts to create a COVID-19 testing plan.  NUSD’s COVID-19 Testing Plan can be found here.

Site Specific COVID Safety Plans

Each school will continue to operate under Novato Unified School District’s Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Protection Program also known as the COVID-19 Safety Plan.  Specific information regarding your child’s school campus can be found in the documents below.  These will be updated to meet new guidelines as they are issued.

We will continue to follow guidance from our public health partners to ensure that our schools are safe for our students and staff.

For more resources and historical COVID information click here: COVID Information

District Contact

Leslie Benjamin
Director, Communications
[email protected]
415-493-4259