Quarantine is an important way to stop the spread of COVID-19. It means staying home and away from others after you have been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19. With the recently updated COVID-19 quarantine guidelines by the CDC and adoption of these guidelines by the Arkansas Department of Health, the Lake Hamilton School District will follow the recommendations which allow for a shorter quarantine period for students and staff.
The updated guidelines only apply to close contacts to a positive case. A close contact is an individual confirmed by ADH contact tracing who was within 6 feet for 15 cumulative minutes or longer within a 24 hour period of a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 during the infections period. Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will follow guidance for isolation.
Please contact the District Point of Contact with questions or to report that a student has received a positive and/or negative test results or been exposed to a COVID-19 positive person: 501-359-2641 or email jeff.scott@lhwolves.net
Updated Quarantine Information:
Quarantine is required for someone identified as a Close Contact to a positive case of COVID-19. This person must remain at home and avoid all public activities for 7 to 14 consecutive 24 hour periods, or longer should symptoms develop, from their last date/time of contact with the positive case, during the infectious period of the positive case. The incubation period in which symptoms of COVID-19 may develop is considered 14 days. Quarantine day Zero begins on the date/time of last exposure to a positive case during the infectious period of the positive case OR when symptoms following exposure begin. See details below.
Close Contacts who have NOT developed symptoms may be released from Quarantine after 7 consecutive 24 hour periods have passed from the last date/time of exposure to a positive case AND they have a qualifying negative COVID-19 test result.
The specimen may be collected AFTER 5 consecutive 24 hour periods have passed following exposure.
Standard PCR COVID-19 test preferred, but a rapid antigen is acceptable.
The Close Contact will still be REQUIRED to monitor for symptoms daily, for the duration of 14 consecutive 24 hour periods, and agree to ISOLATE should symptoms develop.
ISOLATION would begin at symptom onset for 10 full consecutive 24 hour periods.
The Close Contact will also be REQUIRED to wear a facial covering for the duration of 14 consecutive 24 hour periods, and adhere to strict physical distancing and good hand hygiene.
Close Contacts who have NOT developed symptoms and not been tested for COVID-19, may be released from Quarantine AFTER 10 consecutive 24 hour periods have passed from the last date/time of exposure to a positive case.
The Close Contact will still be REQUIRED to monitor for symptoms daily, for the duration of 14 consecutive 24 hour periods, and agree to ISOLATE should symptoms develop.
ISOLATION would begin at symptom onset for 10 full consecutive 24 hour periods.
The Close Contact will also be REQUIRED to wear a facial covering for the duration of 14 consecutive 24 hour periods, and adhere to strict physical distancing and good hand hygiene.
Close Contacts who develop symptoms of COVID-19 at any time during quarantine, should isolate and get tested; however, if they choose not to be tested, they will not be eligible for release until AFTER 10 consecutive 24 hour periods have passed from the ONSET OF SYMPTOMS. This will likely result in an increased length of time for the individual to remain in quarantine, but most closely aligns to the CDC and ADH guidelines.