A modification to the Miami County Health Department’s “Close Contact” guidance may allow some staff and students who are currently in quarantine, to return to the classroom and sports practice fields.
If masks are being worn correctly in a classroom where a positive COVID 19 case has occurred, a student or teacher would not have to complete a 14 day quarantine even if they were within six feet of the infected individual. Miami County Disease Investigator, Christina Beer, says the uptick in cases recently has been significant. The New Guidance for K – 12 schools notes that because mask wearing has proven to be an effective way to prevent the spread of COVID 19, individuals who are wearing masks and are in close contact, that is six feet for 10 minutes or more, with an infectious individual, are considered low risk for contracting COVID 19. In The Guidelines, the County Health Department said it does not recommend excluding students and staff who are in close contact of a COVID 19 positive individual, as long as masks were being worn correctly, covering nose and mouth. The modification is supported by Dr.Donald Banks, the County’s Health Officer, who signed the document Wednesday. Miami County has 231 cases, 40 of which are active. The County added 23 new cases over the weekend. Beer said she estimated that more than 200 people were currently quarantined.
