What to do when you learn of a positive COVID case

​

What to do if you learn of a POSITIVE COVID-19 test.

​In general, all employee communications will be handled by Don Maus and all student communications will be handled by the instructor or Dean.

​If the person is an employee:

Inform you supervisor.  The supervisor will tell the employee to stay home and send the employee a link to complete the Contact Tracing Form. https://rsccd.edu/Departments/Human-Resources/SiteAssets/Pages/Common-COVID-Scenarios/COVID%20Contact%20Tracing%20Form%202.pdf

 

The employee should be told to stay home:

  • For at least 5 days after start of symptoms (Day 0) or after date of positive test (Day 0) if no symptoms).
  • Isolation can end after Day 5 if:
    • Symptoms are not present, or are mild and improving; AND
    • You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication).
  • If fever is present, isolation should be continued until 24 hours after fever resolves.
  • If symptoms, other than fever, are not improving, continue to isolate until symptoms are improving or until after Day 10.
  • infected persons should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings.

     
  • The supervisor will notify Don Maus, Director, Risk Management about the positive test and provide him with a copy of the completed Contact Tracing Form.
  • Any other communications should not include the name of the individual with the positive test due to privacy reasons. You must keep the person's name confidential so you won't be able to ask coworkers if they had close contact with that person.  You will have to follow up with the person who tested positive to try to determine any close contacts.
  • Don will send an e-mail to any employees identified as a close contact.  These individuals will be able to come to work, but they will be encouraged to get tested and to self-monitor for any COVID-19 symptoms for 10 days and to wear a mask around others during this time.
  • Don will send a general communication to all staff who may have been in the work area where the individual was present while infectious.
  • A case is considered to be infectious from 2 days before their symptoms first appeared until at least 10 days after symptoms start. A person with a positive COVID-19 test but no symptoms is considered to be infectious from 2 days before their test was taken until 10 days after their test.

 

If the person is a student:

Student notifies their instructor of a positive COVID test.  Instructor tells the student to stay home:

  • For at least 5 days after start of symptoms (Day 0) or after date of positive test (Day 0) if no symptoms).
  • Isolation can end after Day 5 if:
    • Symptoms are not present, or are mild and improving; AND
    • You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication).
  • If fever is present, isolation should be continued until 24 hours after fever resolves.
  • If symptoms, other than fever, are not improving, continue to isolate until symptoms are improving or until after Day 10.
  • infected persons should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings.

     
  • Instructor notifies their Dean (Dean 1).
  • Dean 1 sends student Contact Tracing Form and looks up student to see if they are enrolled in other in-person classes
    • If yes and student is taking face-to-face classes in other divisions, Dean 1 notifies the other Deans of the positive case and that they will be following up with the student.
  • Dean 1 gathers Contact Tracing Information from the student.  They will ask about close contacts in all classes or other parts of campus then sends the results of the Contact Tracing Form Risk Management and to the other Deans.
  • Deans in other divisions then act related to the courses in their Division as necessary (notifying other students in the class or notifying close contacts).

 

  • The Dean will notify Don Maus, Director, Risk Management.  Any other communications should not include the name of the individual with the Positive Test due to privacy reasons. You must keep the person's name confidential so you won't be able to ask the class if they had close contact with that person.  You will have to follow up with the person who tested positive to try to determine any close contacts.
  • The Dean will send an e-mail to any students identified as a close contact using the script provided below.
  • The Dean will send a general communication to all students or other staff members in the class who may have been in the general area where the individual was present while infectious.  These individuals will be able to come to class, but they will be directed to self-monitor for any COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days.
  • A case is considered to be infectious from 2 days before their symptoms first appeared until at least 10 days after symptoms start. A person with a positive COVID-19 test but no symptoms is considered to be infectious from 2 days before their test was taken until 10 days after their test.

 

SAMPLE COMMUNICATIONS

 

Communications for Close Contacts of Positive Test Case (Employee)

 

Good Morning,

I have been notified of a positive COVID-19 test result at your work location and that you may have been exposed to this person and in close contact with them on June 1st .  Due to confidentiality reasons I cannot divulge the name of this individual.  

As a close contact, you are at increased risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 and should take measures to monitor yourself for illness and protect those around you from becoming infected.  Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, and other signs/symptoms of COVID-19, such as chills, sore throat, muscle aches, diarrhea, or loss of sense of taste or smell.

You do not need to quarantine unless you have symptoms, but a COVID-19 test is recommended 3-5 days after the exposure and you should wear a well-fitting mask around other people through at least day 10 of the initial exposure.  If you develop symptoms, stay home and get tested.

There are free take-home COVID testing kits available at the Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College Health Centers.     

Let me know if you have any questions.

Don Maus

Director, Risk Management

​   

Communications for Others in the Department of Positive Test Case (Employees)

 

Good Morning,

My name is Don Maus and I am the Director of Risk Management for Rancho Santiago Community College District.  The District was recently notified that someone visiting your work area tested positive for COVID-19.  Due to confidentiality reasons we cannot divulge the name of the individual.  At this time and based on the information available to us, the District has determined that you have not had close contact (defined as being within 6 feet for longer than 15 cumulative minutes within a 24-hour period) with this individual.  We are contacting anyone who we think was in the area so you could be aware of this situation and self-monitor for development of symptoms.  Under the CDC Guidance, most casual professional interactions are classified as “Low Risk," meaning that an individual has been in the same indoor environment as an infected person with symptomatic COVID-19, but has not had close contact.

You do not need to be quarantined or do anything differently, but If you become feverish or develop any symptoms, you should stay home and call your healthcare provider for advice.  As an additional precautionary step, ANYONE with concerns about possible transmission are encouraged to take advantage of free take home COVID tests available at the Student Health Centers. 

We want to reiterate our commitment to the health and safety of our students and staff.  Thank you for your understanding during this challenging time .

 

Thank you,

Don Maus

Director, Risk Management

Communications to Student Who Tests Positive

 

 I have been notified that you tested positive for COVID-19.  I hope your symptoms are mild and you have a full recovery.  Please complete the attached form and send back to me as soon as possible.

 

You should stay home from school/work:

  • For at least 5 days after start of symptoms (Day 0) or after date of positive test (Day 0) if no symptoms).
  • Isolation can end after Day 5 if:
    • Symptoms are not present, or are mild and improving; AND
    • You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication).
  • If fever is present, isolation should be continued until 24 hours after fever resolves.
  • If symptoms, other than fever, are not improving, continue to isolate until symptoms are improving or until after Day 10.
  • infected persons should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings.

 

For more information, please see the website at https://www.ochealthinfo.com/novelcoronavirus  or call the Orange County Health Care Agency at 1-800-564-8448.

 

 

Communications for Close Contacts of Positive Test Case (Student)

 

Dear Student,

We have been notified of a positive COVID-19 test result at our campus and that you may have been exposed to this person and in close contact with them on either this past Monday or Tuesday.  Due to confidentiality reasons we cannot divulge the name of this individual.  

As a close contact, you are at increased risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 and should take measures to monitor yourself for illness and protect those around you from becoming infected.  Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, and other signs/symptoms of COVID-19, such as chills, sore throat, muscle aches, diarrhea, or loss of sense of taste or smell.

You do not need to quarantine unless you have symptoms, but a COVID-19 test is recommended 3-5 days after the exposure and you should wear a well-fitting mask around other people through at least day 10 of the initial exposure.

We encourage you to take advantage of free take home COVID tests available at the Student Health Centers

Thank you,

 

 

Communications to Others in the Class of Positive Test Case (Student)

 

Dear Students,

The District was recently notified that someone attending the one of your classes this week tested positive for COVID-19.  Due to confidentiality reasons we cannot divulge the name of the individual.   We are contacting anyone who was in the class so you could be aware of this situation and self-monitor for development of symptoms.  Under the CDC Guidance, most casual professional interactions are classified as “Low Risk," meaning that an individual has been in the same indoor environment as an infected person with symptomatic COVID-19.

You do not need to be quarantined or do anything differently, but If you become feverish or develop any symptoms, you should stay home and call your healthcare provider for advice.  As an additional precautionary step, if you have concerns about possible transmission you are encouraged to take advantage free COVID take home tests available at the Student Health Centers.   

For more information, please see the website at https://www.ochealthinfo.com/novelcoronavirus  or call the Orange County Health Care Agency at 1-800-564-8448.

We want to reiterate our commitment to the health and safety of our students and staff.  Thank you for your understanding during this challenging time .

 

Communication to Employee Who Tests Positive

Dear Employee,

My name is Don Maus and I am the Director of Risk Management for Rancho Santiago Community College District.  I was informed that you recently tested positive for COVID-19 and that you have begun to quarantine. I hope your symptoms are mild and you have a quick recovery. 

 

You should stay home from school/work:

  • For at least 5 days after start of symptoms (Day 0) or after date of positive test (Day 0) if no symptoms).
  • Isolation can end after Day 5 if:
    • Symptoms are not present, or are mild and improving; AND
    • You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication).
  • If fever is present, isolation should be continued until 24 hours after fever resolves.
  • If symptoms, other than fever, are not improving, continue to isolate until symptoms are improving or until after Day 10.
  • infected persons should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings.

     

The State mandated emergency COVID leaves have ended as of 12/31/2022 and have not been extended.  If you are unable or not approved by your manager to work remotely during this time you should use your accrued sick leave as provided in your Collective Bargaining Agreement.

I hope you feel better soon.  If you have any questions don't hesitate to reach out to me.

Sincerely,

Don Maus

Director, Risk Management