
Updated COVID Guidance
(as of 9/21/21)
Updated Guidance for Symptomatic Students and Probable or Confirmed COVID Cases
Please review this updated guidance from the DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Thank you.
If a student is sent home sick with suspected COVID-19 symptoms (e.g., cough, fever, diarrhea, shortness of breath, etc.), must all their siblings/household members be sent home as well? (Updated 9/21/2021)
If the ill household member is tested within 24 hours of first notification of symptoms, household members do not need to be sent home unless there is a high suspicion the ill person has COVID-19 (e.g., they are a known close contact, they have lost sense of taste and smell). Pending test results, household members can remain in school with consistent use of well-fitting masks both indoors, as required, and outdoors. If the ill household member tests positive for COVID-19, then any unvaccinated household members should be removed from the school immediately. If testing does not occur within 24 hours, unvaccinated household members must be excluded.
Updated COVID-19 exposure guidance on buses
We received information from IDPH this week that indicates a change to the close contact definition on school buses will be coming in the next IDPH School FAQs. As you know, these have been pending for some time and IDPH indicates they are close to being released.
Per the IDPH school call Tuesday, 9/14, and confirmed with IDPH on 9/15, persons exposed to a COVID-19 case on a bus will not be considered close contacts if:
- both the case and the close contact were correctly and consistently wearing a mask,
- were seated more than 3 feet apart, and
- if windows on the bus were open at the time of the exposure.
What this means is that only the student/s in the seat with, and immediately in front and back of the positive child on the bus would be considered a close contact.
Note: Please know that the final language from IDPH may change.
Thank you for your attention to these new guidelines.
Glen Ellyn School District 41
Email: webmaster@d41.org
Website: www.d41.org
Location: 793 North Main Street, Glen Ellyn, IL, USA
Phone: 630.790.6400
Facebook: facebook.com/glenellynd41
Twitter: @glenellynd41