Symptomatic Testing Policy

COVID-19 TESTING POLICY AND CRITERIA

FOR SYMPTOMATIC STAFF AND STUDENTS OR STAFF/STUDENTS WITH A KNOWN COVID-19 EXPOSURE

[Note: This plan is subject to change pursuant to state, county or city ordinances or new guidance provided by the CDC, ODH, ODE, local health departments or any other prevailing authority]  

The Ohio State School for the Blind (OSSB) and the Ohio School for the Deaf (OSD) have a limited ability to provide rapid COVID-19 testing on campus.    COVID-19 testing will be provided to staff and students, both residential and day[1] , who present to Student Health Services with symptoms consistent with COVID-19.    Staff or students who are experiencing the following new, non-chronic symptoms may receive a rapid COVID-19 test:

• Fever (100.4 Degrees or higher) 
• New or worsened cough  
• Shortness of breath 
• Loss of taste or smell  

• Sore throat  
• Diarrhea or vomiting 
• New onset severe headache  

The aforementioned symptoms exclude symptoms attributable to an alternative diagnosis.   Clinical judgment will always guide testing practices.

Staff or students who present with any of the above symptoms will be immediately separated from other students and OSD/OSSB staff.

COVID-19 testing will also be provided to staff and students, both residential and day, who have a known exposure to COVID-19 while on OSD and/or OSSB’s campus.

Consent for rapid COVID-19 testing by OSD/OSSB Student Health Services:   Staff and the parents/guardians of all students will be provided with a consent form regarding rapid COVID-19 testing on campus.   If the student is under eighteen (18) years of age, parent/guardian consent is required for Student Health Services to perform a rapid COVID-19 test on the student.   If the student is eighteen (18) years of age or older, the student’s consent is required to perform a rapid COVID-19 test on the student.   In the event a parent/guardian or student (who is 18 years or older) does not consent to rapid COVID-19 testing and the student presents with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 while the student is on campus OSSB or OSD, the student’s family must arrange for the student to be transported home in accordance with OSD/OSSB’s COVID-19 Screening and Isolation Policy and the student will not be allowed to remain in school or in the dormitories. 

Notification of rapid COVID-19 Test Results:  Student Health Services will use reasonable efforts to contact the students’ parent/guardian prior to administering the rapid COVID-19 test to notify them of the situation.  If the student is under the age of eighteen (18) or with the student’s permission if the student is over the age of eighteen (18), Parents/Guardians will be notified of their student’s test results as soon as is practicable following the test.   Staff will be notified of their rapid COVID-19 test results in real time following testing.

If a Residential or Day Student tests positive for COVID-19:  A positive result on the rapid COVID-19 test administered by Student Health Services will be considered indicative that a student has COVID-19 and shall not remain at school or in the dormitories. The student shall be subject to OSD/OSSB’s Screening and Isolation policy regarding return to campus.   Parents and/or guardians will be contacted immediately to make arrangements to transport the student home.   The student will be given appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) including a mask if they do not already have one and will remain in isolation until such time as they are transported home.   Students with positive COVID-19 results will be provided with information regarding quarantine and isolation measures and OSD/OSSB will undertake the necessary contact tracing on campus.

If a Symptomatic Residential Student tests negative for COVID-19: If a student receives a negative test result on the rapid COVID-19 test administered by Student Health Services and Student Health Services believes that clinical judgment indicates that the student is potentially COVID-19 positive, the student may remain in isolation for up to 24 hours (based on clinical judgment) and a second rapid COVID-19 test will be administered.[2]   If the second COVID-19 test administered by Student Health Services is positive, the student will be considered to be positive for COVID-19 and the above policy regarding a positive test result will apply.   If the second COVID-19 test administered by Student Health Services is negative, the student may be considered to be negative for COVID-19 and shall be allowed to remain in school and in the dormitories. If a student received a negative test result on the rapid COVID-19 test, but based on clinical judgment, Student Health Services believes the student should be presumed COVID-19 positive, the above policy regarding a positive test result will apply.

If a Symptomatic Day Student tests negative for COVID-19: If a student receives a negative test result on the rapid COVID-19 test administered by Student Health Services, the student is still subject to OSD/OSSB’s Screening and Isolation Policy.  Additionally, if the student’s symptoms are indicative of another illness[3] , the student’s parents and/or guardians will be contacted to make arrangements to transport the student home.  

If a Staff Member tests positive for COVID-19: A positive result on the rapid COVID-19 test administered by Student Health Services will be considered indicative that a staff member has COVID-19 and shall not remain at school or in the dormitories. The staff member shall be subject to OSD/OSSB’s Screening and Isolation policy regarding return to campus.   Staff should immediately leave campus.   The staff member will be given appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) including a mask if they do not already have one.  Staff members with positive COVID-19 results will be provided with information regarding quarantine and isolation measures and OSD/OSSB will undertake the necessary contact tracing on campus.

Health Department Notification: OSD and OSSB will comply with all public health notification requirements should a positive COVID-19 test occur.   

Revised:  August 12, 2021