New COVID Policy as of August 24, 2022

Dear LEC Community,

As the new school year begins, we would like to share updated recommendations for ongoing prevention of COVID-19 spread. These steps will help keep students, employees, and our entire Storm community safe, while also keeping students learning in the classroom throughout the year.

Our guidance regarding how best to keep our community safe, healthy, and in school continues to evolve. On Aug. 11, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance on how people can protect themselves and others from COVID-19, what actions to take if exposed to COVID-19, and what actions to take if you have symptoms or test positive with the virus.

The new guidance states that “Quarantine is no longer recommended for people who are exposed to COVID-19 except in certain high-risk congregate settings such as correctional facilities, homeless shelters, and nursing homes. In schools and ECE settings, which are generally not considered high-risk congregate settings, people who were exposed to COVID-19 should follow recommendations to wear a well-fitting mask and get tested."

What This Means

First, because contact tracing and case investigation has shifted to focus on high-risk environments, such as long-term care facilities and healthcare settings, Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is no longer recommending quarantine simply for exposure to someone testing positive for COVID-19.

Instead, ODH recommends schools follow general isolation procedures from the CDC for confirmed cases.

• If students or employees feel sick or suspect they might have COVID-19, they should stay home and take a rapid test.

• If the initial test is negative, but you still feel sick, it is recommended that you wait 48 hours and test again.

• If you test positive, students and employees should stay home from school for at least 5 days and longer if necessary until fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and symptoms are improving.

  • After isolation ends, students and employees should continue to take precautions as they resume normal activities by wearing a mask for an additional 5 days.

If you test positive for COVID, please complete the COVID-19 notification form on the LEC website HERE.HERE.

• Residential students may isolate themselves in their dorm room. They can still go to the dining hall to pick up their meals to-go, provided they wear a mask and maintain safe distance.

• Student Athletes must inform their respective Athletic Trainer of positive test status and work with them to follow Return to Play protocols upon completion of the 5-day isolation period.

Additional Resources

• CDC: Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19CDC: Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19

• CDC: Community Levels by CountyCDC: Community Levels by County

• ODH: What to Do if You Have COVID-19ODH: What to Do if You Have COVID-19

• ODH: How schools can request COVID-19 testsODH: How schools can request COVID-19 tests

We plan to continue working closely with our local health department to monitor community spread, in order to make decisions about the best measures to protect our Storm community. As we receive new information, we will modify our procedures accordingly.

Thank you for your continued partnership in our efforts to keep our Storm community safe, healthy, and in the classroom this school year.