WEISER SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 431
925 PIONEER ROAD
WEISER, IDAHO 83672
PHONE (208) 414-0616 * FAX (208) 414-1265
October 22, 2020
Dear Parents and Patrons,
We have recently received questions as they relate to quarantine for someone who tests positive
for COVID-19, or for someone who is considered to have had “close contact” with a COVID
positive person.
The Pandemic Operations Plan for the Weiser School District identifies the recommendations
established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Southwest District Health Department
(SWDH) as the guidance for district response.
You can review the information on the CDC website at: https://www.cdc.gov/
Guidance related to quarantine may be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-
you-are-sick/quarantine.html
Current guidance from the CDC includes the following:
1) Symptoms may appear for an individual anywhere from 2-14 days after contracting
COVID-19.
2) A person who has “close contact” with an individual who is positive for COVID should
quarantine for 14 days following their last close contact with the COVID positive person.
Many circumstances may create “close contact”. The chances for transmission increase
with time and proximity, and the CDC identifies a “close contact” as someone within 6
feet of a COVID positive person for 15 minutes or more. (The CDC recently updated
their guideline to include 15 cumulative minutes within 6 feet throughout the day.) A
close contact is established using the guideline regardless of whether or not either or both
individuals wear a mask or face covering. Wearing a mask does not eliminate conditions
that create close contacts or the need for close contacts to quarantine as a result of
exposure. However, according to the CDC, wearing a mask does reduce actual
transmission rates, which in turn reduce the number of COVID positive cases.
3) A person who tests positive for COVID should quarantine for 10 days following the onset
of symptoms (or the date of the positive test) and 24 hours after symptoms subside,
whichever is greater. The person must be fever free for 24 hours without the use of
medication.
KYLA DICKERSON
District Clerk
CHRISTY
STENDER
Deputy Clerk
DAVID DAVIES
Academic Achievement Director
WILLIAM MORRISS
Special Services Director
WADE WILSON
Superintendent
4) Comparing # 2 and # 3 – a person who tests positive for COVID may be able to exit
quarantine quicker than someone who was determined to have “close contact” and was
simply “exposed” to the virus – possible 10 day vs 14 day quarantine.
5) A COVID positive person may begin shedding the virus up to 48 hours prior to showing
any symptoms, so contact tracing identifies “close contacts” 48 hours prior to the onset of
symptoms for the COVID positive individual.
The purpose behind this posting is simply to identify some key elements as they pertain to
quarantine as provided by the CDC. I encourage you to review the CDC website for the most up
to date information as it relates to COVID-19. The information continues to grow and the site
contains a wealth of information.
As always, we ask that you take personal responsibility for helping to control the transmission of
COVID and other illnesses by practicing excellent hygiene, staying home when sick, and
remaining mindful of symptoms associated with coronavirus.
Respectfully,
Wade Wilson, Superintendent
HIGH ACHIEVEMENT RESPONSIBLE
CITIZENSHIP
WEISER SCHOOLS
www.weiserschools.org
