OBAP

DEFINITIONS:

Exposure: 

If, within the last 10 days, any non-immune (as defined below) member of your household has a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 or has been in close contact with anyone who has a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, then all non-immune members of your household must remain out of the academy. In addition, all symptomatic individuals, including any immune individuals, must remain out of the academy, unless cleared to return.

Individuals will be considered “immune” commencing:

1. For vaccinated individual: 2 weeks after completing the full course of vaccination.
2. For previously positive individual (with lab-confirmed case): ten (10) days after the onset of symptoms, or, in the case of an asymptomatic individual, ten (10) days after the date tested.

Travel: 

If you have traveled internationally from any area which is the subject of travel restrictions under applicable state and local guidance, you must remain out of the academy unless you were fully vaccinated at the time of travel or produced a negative COVID test result that was conducted 5 days after returning from travel. 

After the applicable exclusion period has passed, you/your household may return provided these three things have happened:

1. At least 10 days have passed since anyone in your household first experienced symptoms; and
2. Symptoms have improved for anyone in your household that experienced symptoms (for example, cough or shortness of breath has improved); and
3. Your household has been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducers.   

Household Members:

Means anyone living or present in the household on a regular basis (e.g. houseguests, nannies, caregivers, home health workers, contractors, etc.) and includes anyone with pick-up or drop-off privileges at OBAP’s ACE Academies.

Close Contact: 

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 individuals, 2 days prior to test date).

Factors to consider in determining Close Contact include proximity, duration of exposure, whether the infected individual was symptomatic and/or generating respiratory aerosols (e.g., was coughing, singing, shouting), and other environmental factors (crowding, adequacy of ventilation, whether exposure was indoors or outdoors). Masks are not a substitute for social distancing. Consequently, when determining Close Contact for members of the general public, the determination should be made irrespective of whether the contact was wearing respiratory PPE or fabric face coverings.

Close Contact for Medical Professionals: 

The determination of Close Contact for the potentially exposed individual will consider the use of recommended personal protective equipment or PPE (e.g., gowns, gloves, NIOSH-certified disposable N95 respirator, eye protection.)

COVID-19 Response Team:

Individuals designated by OBAP to oversee the implementation, decision-making, and guidance of OBAP’s COVID-19 Policies and Procedures. 

ILLNESS:

During the COVID-19 pandemic period, our Health Check & Illness Policy applies to all staff, children, and their household members. The final decision on whether to exclude an individual from the program due to illness will be made by your location’s ACE Director. 

For your child's comfort, and to reduce the risk of contagion, children must be picked up within 1 hour of notification of illness. Until then, your child will be kept comfortable and will continue to be observed for symptoms.

DAILY HEALTH CHECK:

All staff, families, children, and their household members must conduct a check before coming into the academy. Should you or any household member have any of the following COVID-19-like symptoms during the preceding 72 hours, we ask you to remain out of the ACE Academy and notify the ACE Academy Director as soon as able.

• Cough
• Sore Throat
• Muscle Aches
• Difficulty Breathing
• New Loss of Taste or Smell
• Fever at or above the threshold temperature of 100.4° F (or would have, but for the use of fever-reducers). The threshold temperature is 100.4° F, unless a LOWER threshold temperature is imposed in the local jurisdiction.

All staff, families, children, and their household members must submit to a temperature check upon arrival at the ACE Academy and must provide complete and accurate responses to the Daily Health Check. Anyone refusing to comply will not be permitted entry.

The Daily Health Check questions and the temperature threshold may be updated from time to time. All symptomatic individuals, including any immune individuals, must remain out of the academy unless cleared to return.

Note: If the exclusionary symptom has already been cleared by the COVID-19 Response Team, then a “yes” to the continued presence of a cleared symptom will not result in exclusion.

Consistent with our COVID-19 Policy, a symptomatic household will be required to remain out of the academy for at least 10 days. There are, however, two options for a household to return earlier following an exclusion due to symptoms:

Early Return Confirmation: A symptomatic individual who tests negative with a molecular (PCR) test and has been out of the academy at least two full days will be able to return by providing a signed Early Return Form.

Return to ACE Academy Exclusion Form indicating symptoms are improving, there have been no new symptoms since testing, and the individual has been fever-free for at least 24 hours.

Clearance to Return:  If a medical provider assesses the symptomatic individual and provides acceptable clearance to return, then the individual will be cleared to return, and the ten (10) day exclusion period will not apply. Clearance to return will be acceptable if a medical provider confirms in writing that: 

1. the individual has tested negative and can return when fever-free for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducers) and symptoms are resolving,
2. there is an alternate diagnosis causing the COVID-like symptoms and the individual has tested positive for a confirmed non-COVID microbiological diagnosis, or negative for COVID-19 using a molecular or antigen test for SARS- CoV-2, or 
3. there is an alternate diagnosis causing the COVID-like symptoms. Patients presenting with symptoms of an upper respiratory illness, or ear, nose, or throat infection, must provide clearance to return pursuant to options a or b above, and c will not be sufficient. Any unspecified diagnosis is presumed to be COVID-19 and the exclusion will continue. Clearance to return cannot be provided by a family member, can only be provided to clear an exclusion for symptoms, and is not sufficient to clear an exclusion for exposure.

All Clearances to return must be reviewed and approved by the COVID-19 Response Team. Early return requirements may change, from time to time, based on current conditions. Download the Return to ACE Confirmation Form.

Notify us immediately if you become aware of any suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in your household occurring within 14 days prior to or 48 hours after any member of your household has been present at the academy.

FAMILIES MUST COMPLY WITH STATE AND LOCAL REGULATIONS REGARDING MASKS/FACE COVERINGS.

Students: 

Parents should consult with their child’s health care provider, if necessary (e.g., for children with certain conditions such as asthma), to determine if an individual child is able to safely and consistently wear a cloth face covering while in care.

Students should always wear masks/face coverings during in-person classroom activities, transportation, and in-person field trip events unless:

• While engaged in physical activities outside and fully vaccinated (unless otherwise required under local regulation or policy)
• The student is interacting in an online ACE Academy activity
• The student is unable to remove the face covering without assistance 
• The student has severe asthma or other breathing difficulties or safety concerns 
• The student has special educational or healthcare needs, including intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, and sensory concerns or tactile sensitivity 

ACE Academy Staff: 

Face coverings or masks should be worn at all times while indoors. Exceptions to this policy are as follows:

• While engaged in physical activities outside and fully vaccinated (unless otherwise required under local regulation or policy)
• While eating at least 6’ apart from other students and staff

ACE Academy Speakers/Presenters:

Face coverings or masks should be worn at all times while indoors. Exceptions to this policy are as follows:

• While engaged in physical activities outside and fully vaccinated (unless otherwise required under local laws, regulation or restrictions)
• While eating at least 6’ apart from other students and staff

Masks/face coverings are NOT a substitute for social distancing, hand washing, or other everyday preventive actions.