COVID-19 Update: Changes to Close Contact Guidance
In accordance with Michigan Administrative Rules 325.174 and 325.175, the Lenawee Intermediate School District (LISD) has been identifying and reporting close contacts of COVID-positive individuals within the school community to the Lenawee County Health Department. The Lenawee County Health Department, acting under authority provided to them in Administrative Rule 325.175(4) has excluded identified close contacts from school for a period of time based on various circumstances.
This week, the Lenawee County Health Department updated its quarantine and isolation protocols. Beginning today, Friday, February 25, 2022, the LISD will no longer report close contacts of a COVID-positive individual to the Lenawee County Health Department. The LISD will however continue to conduct contact tracing to the best of its ability and will provide notice to those students (parents/guardians) and staff members who have been in close contact with a COVID-positive individual.
The Lenawee County Health Department now recommends, but does not require, close contacts to remain home from school for the following periods of time:
- If fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the individual may return to school or work immediately.
- If not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the individual is encouraged to test every other day for a period of six days or remain home from school or work for a period of five days after the close contact.
Students and staff who have been in close contact with a COVID-positive individual are encouraged to monitor for symptoms of COVID and must remain home from school or work if developing symptoms of COVID-19. Students and staff who are a known close contact of a COVID-positive individual are also encouraged, but not required to wear a well-fitting face mask for a 10-day period after the close contact occurred.
“Close contacts” are generally defined as any individual who has been within six feet (if both parties are unmasked) for 15 minutes or more during a single 24-hour period of a COVID-positive individual while the COVID-positive individual was symptomatic or for the 48-hour period prior to the onset or symptoms or the COVID-positive individual testing positive for COVID.
For additional information about the Lenawee County Health Department’s requirements and guidance on COVID-19 within the K-12 school setting, please visit the Lenawee County Health Department’s COVID-19 Schools webpage.
