Greenfield-Central High School students navigate between classes in January.
Daily Reporter file photo
HANCOCK COUNTY — The state issued new COVID-19 guidance Thursday easing requirements and recommendations, including those for schools.
It comes shortly after one Hancock County school corporation drops its mask requirement and is prompting others to drop and consider dropping theirs soon.
The Indiana Department of Health released the update while citing novel coronavirus cases and hospitalizations falling significantly in recent weeks as the virus’ omicron variant surge passes. Tools are also available that weren’t two years ago, like vaccines and therapies, the department noted.
The changes come as Hancock County averages about 16 new COVID-19 cases a day as opposed to the over 200 a day at the height of the recent omicron surge. Indiana has been averaging about 1,820 new cases a day, compared to the over 14,000 a day at the surge’s peak.
The state health department is recommending a shift from universal contact tracing, case investigation and exposure notification to a cluster or outbreak-based mode.
Individuals who suspect a COVID-19 infection should get tested, isolate to protect others, quickly notify close contacts if they’re positive and seek health care if at higher risk. Individuals can use www.tellyourcontacts.org to send confidential texts or emails.
Starting Feb. 23, the state health department no longer recommends contact tracing and quarantining in schools, although local health departments in conjunction with their schools may elect to continue.
If schools are made aware of a positive case, sharing the potential exposure with students and families can emphasize the importance of observation for COVID-19 symptoms, the guidance continues.
Schools also won’t need to report any COVID-19 case information to the state health department, and the online school dashboard will be discontinued.
Schools should continue to have those who test positive for COVID-19 isolate for at least five days, however, per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
Schools should also continue to assist their local health departments with exposure notification when there is a cluster of positive COVID-19 cases or an outbreak. The updated guidance adds that schools should notify their local health departments when absences reach 10% for COVID-like illness or when schools are concerned about illness levels.
A negative test or doctor’s note is also no longer required to return to school. As with other illnesses, students should not return to school unless they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, and their symptoms are resolving.
According to the latest K-12 guidance, those who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home and isolate from others for at least five days, with day zero being the first day of symptoms, or the date of the positive test for those with no symptoms. Those in isolation may return to school on day six as long as they’re fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, and symptoms have improved. They should also wear a mask when around others at home, in public and at school for an additional five days.
The state reported Thursday that it’s planning a program to provide COVID-19 tests for schools to send home as well.
Most schools in Hancock County have been requiring masks to take advantage of flexibility the state’s been offering that allows schools to not quarantine close contacts if masks are worn.
Mt. Vernon schools announced Wednesday that it had just one quarantine and that its absence rate due to illness has sharply dropped. The school corporation lifted its mask requirement effective Thursday but still recommends them.
Masks remain necessary on school buses, however, due to a federal requirement currently set to expire on March 18.
Officials with the Southern Hancock school district say they plan to rescind the mask mandate effective Tuesday, Feb. 22 when school returns to class after the Presidents Day holiday Monday, Feb. 21. Masks will be optional for all students and staff inside SH schools.
Southern Hancock superintendent Lisa Lantrip said the district is excited and relieved about this change to the state’s COVID-19 protocols.
“This is a sign that our students and staff can return to some semblance of normalcy in our classrooms each day,” she said. “We are grateful for the diligent work our staff and community have done to keep students safe throughout this pandemic.”
Greenfield-Central schools announced Thursday that it will end its mask mandate next Tuesday as well, making face coverings optional.
Officials with the Eastern Hancock school district have a board meeting set for 2 p.m. Monday Feb. 21 for the purpose of voting on the rescinding of the current mask mandate.
Craig Felty, vice president of patient care and chief nursing officer at Hancock Regional Hospital, supports the state’s update.
“I think we’re at a good point for this,” Felty said. “I think these are appropriate changes. We know we’re definitely seeing a reprieve from the omicron variant.”
He noted it’s always subject to change based on how the pandemic continues.
“If we do start seeing another variant that pops back up again and becomes more mainstream, we’re probably going to see some of these changing again,” he said.
Felty also noted the health care industry must remain vigilant with its own COVID-19 guidelines.
“Obviously because we work with and take care of COVID patients every single day,” he said. “There’s a lot that goes into health care that’s not necessarily passed on to the general public.”
As of Thursday afternoon, Hancock Regional Hospital had three COVID-19 patients, Felty said, a steep drop from its high of 34.
He added the hospital remains busy, however, estimating it’s at about 80% capacity.
The state’s update Thursday also reports that children in early childcare age 5 and older who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate at home for five days and may return on day six if fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, and symptoms are improving. They should wear a mask on days six through 10 upon returning.
Children age 2 to 5 who test positive should isolate for five days as well. They can return on day six if they can correctly and consistently wear a mask. If not, they should isolate for a total of seven days and may return on day eight.
Children 6 weeks to 2 years who test positive should isolate at home for seven days, as masking is a hazard for them.
Children exposed to COVID-19 but without symptoms no longer need to quarantine.
Childcare programs should still notify families if a child or teacher tests positive to allow families to be diligent in looking for COVID-19 symptoms.
Kristy Deer of the Daily Reporter staff contributed to this story.
