COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER
APPENDIX T-1: Reopening Protocol for K-12 Schools Page 10 of 16
Revised 7/1/2021
19 Compliance Team will determine whether the individual should be excused from the facility
according to DPH guidance on Symptom and Exposure Screening Pathways at Educational
Institutions. Students who screen positive are given a surgical mask and accompanied to a pre-
selected isolation space where they can remain while a determination is made on exclusion and
arrangements are made for their return home, where indicated.
• Per the DPH Symptom and Exposure Screening Pathways, students, staff, and visitors who have had
close contact with an individual who has screened positive for symptoms consistent with possible
COVID-19 are notified of the potential exposure. These individuals are not required to quarantine
unless the exposure has been confirmed through a positive COVID-19 diagnostic viral test or a clinical
diagnosis from a medical provider. Students who have a confirmed exposure are accompanied to
preselected quarantine space where they can remain until arrangements are made for their return
home. This space is apart from the one set aside for symptomatic students. It may be a separate
room or an area within the same room that is set apart by a barrier. Once they return home, they are
instructed to self-quarantine as required by Health Officer Quarantine Order.
❑ Screening of adults and of middle and high school age students should include a question about close contact
with anyone at home, school or elsewhere in the past 10 days who has tested positive for COVID-19.
• Any adult who is screened for exposure and reports close contact with an infected person is instructed
to leave the school, return home to initiate self-quarantine, and get testing for COVID-19.
• Any middle or high school student who is screened for exposure and reports close contact with an
infected person is provided with a surgical mask and accompanied to a predetermined space in the
school while arrangements are made for them to be picked up by parents in order to initiate quarantine
at home. Parents are advised to seek testing for the child.
❑ Consider implementing measures to limit risk of infection due to visits by individuals other than staff and
students. These may include (check all that apply):
• Visitors should be registered in a visitor log that includes a visitor’s name, phone number and email
address in case this information is needed in the future for contact tracing purposes. If a visitor must
be accompanied by another person (e.g., for translation assistance, or because the visitor is a minor,
or has minor students) their information should also be captured in the visitor log.
• Movement of visitors within the school is best limited to designated areas such as the reception or
lobby area, offices, conference or meeting rooms, and public rest rooms to the extent feasible , in
order to reduce unnecessary interaction with any stable learning groups.
• Visitors arriving at the school are reminded to wear a face mask at all times while inside the
school. This applies to all adults and to children 2 years of age and older. Individuals who
have been instructed by their medical provider that they should not wear a face mask should wear a
face shield with a drape on the bottom edge, as long as their condition permits it. A drape that is form
fitting under the chin is preferred. Masks with one-way valves must not be used. To support the
safety of your employees and other visitors, a face mask should be made available to visitors
who arrive without them.
❑ Implementing measures to promote optimal ventilation in the school is recommended. These may include
(check all that apply):
• Movement of classroom learning, meals, and activities to outdoor space is maximized
whenever feasible and weather permitting.
• The school HVAC system is in good, working order. Prior to school reopening, consider having the
HVAC system evaluated by an appropriate engineer familiar with the Guidance for Reopening
Schools as developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning
Engineers (ASHRAE).
• HVAC systems are set to maximize indoor/outdoor air exchange unless outdoor conditions (recent
fire, very high outside temperature, high pollen count, etc.) make this inappropriate.