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Health Office / COVID

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The promotion of wellness and the prevention of illness in students and the entire school community is a key focus of the health office at Thetford Academy.

The school nurse is available Monday though Friday to support students and provide care for illness and injury with the goal of helping students stay in school and minimize absences whenever possible.

COVID AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

What to do when your student is ill:

  1. Your student must stay home if they have any of these symptoms: fever, cough, congestion, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, change in taste/smell.
  2. If a student has any of these symptoms for more than 24 hours, they must complete a home rapid Covid antigen test and let the Health Office know the result.
  3. If symptoms resolve within 24 hours, students may return to school and do not require a Covid test.

WHEN A STUDENT IS DIAGNOSED WITH COVID (DAY OF POSITIVE TEST IS DAY 0)

  • Students may return to school after 5 days if symptoms have resolved and the student has had no fever for the previous 24 hours.

WHEN A STUDENT IS EXPOSED TO COVID (DAY OF EXPOSURE = DAY 0)

For students up to date on their vaccines:

  • if symptoms develop at any time, students should take a Covid rapid antigen test at home
  • during this time, students may attend school

*’Up to date’ means that the student has either had their booster or has completed their Pfizer vaccine series within the last five months.

For students who are not up to date on their vaccines or not vaccinated:

  • no earlier than day 4, take two antigen tests 24 hours apart (or longer) OR on or after day 5 take a PCR or a LAMP test
  • if symptoms develop at any time, students should get tested right away
  • during this time, students may attend school
  • if you are a close contact, you might choose to wear a mask

SPORTS AFTER COVID

After a Covid diagnosis:

  • students must get sports clearance from your doctor to resume sports or physical education classes
  • students must send clearance form to the Health Office
  • please ask your doctor to use this form to document medical clearance and return to play guidance

IN-SCHOOL TESTING

  • In-school Covid testing and at-home Covid tests are available from the Health Office.

WHERE TO GET A COVID PCR TEST

  • Upper Valley Ambulance in Fairlee provides PCR testing every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9  a.m. to 12: 00 p.m. and on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Testing available by appointment or on a drop-in basis.
  • Upper Valley Pediatrics provides PCR testing at both its Bradford (802-222-4722) and Thetford (802-785-4722) locations. Testing is by appointment and available on weekdays.

Ellen Gnaedinger

School Nurse

ellen.gnaedinger@thet.net
802-785-4805 x226

Important Links

Medical Guidance for Return to Play After Covid Infection – Form

Academic Guidelines When Quarantining

Covid-19 Vaccine Clinics: Vermont Dept Health

Prescription Medication Order & Permission Form

Religious Immunization Exemption Form

HOW THE COVID VACCINE WORKS

Recent Health Office News

  • Covid cases are Increasing: TA has 7 cases of Covid this week. Students should stay home and test if they are sick. Covid is causing minimal illness for some and causing more serious symptoms for others. This new subvariant is causing 1-2 weeks of fatigue in many adults. We still......

    12 May, 2022

  • Covid Cases IncreasingThe subvariant BA.2 is very, very contagious. Many families have had recent Covid exposure. Please be smart about masking and distancing around folks you don’t know. Be careful over the upcoming break as you travel. BoostersAdults 50 years and older and all 12 years old and up with......

    21 April, 2022

  • Current illnesses: PLEASE: Sick children need to stay home. TA continues seeing many, many cases of an upper respiratory virus. We also continue to see several cases of a stomach bug. If your child is sick they must stay home until they are better.  A friendly reminder, students with upper......

    11 April, 2022

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