In addition to their responsibilities to screen students daily before arrival, families must immediately notify the school in these situations:

• if the student has a positive test for COVID-19
• if the student has COVID-19 symptoms
• if the student has had close contact with an individual who is with COVID-19

If a student meets the above criteria, families should notify their campus nurse.

Students who report a COVID-19 positive test, symptoms or close contact will not be allowed on campus until criteria for returning to school is met (see Criteria for Returning to School). While at home, the student may continue learning with the assigned teachers/classes as an intermittent remote learner.

Belton ISD is following guidance from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine who is infectious and what deems a “close contact” encounter for exposure purposes.

Individuals are presumed infectious at least 48 hours prior to the onset of COVID-19 symptoms. Asymptomatic individuals who test positive for COVID-19 are presumed infectious two days prior to the confirming lab test. 

Close contact is defined as:

• Being directly exposed to infectious secretions; or
• Being within 6 feet of someone for a total of approximately 15 minutes throughout the course of the day; however, if additional prevention and mitigation measures such as proper face coverings are in place this could affect the determination.

When a positive case is reported, trained campus staff will assist Bell County Public Health investigations to determine who is a close contact. To best support these investigations, the campus may need to be closed for a short period of time to ensure all close contacts are identified. 

When this happens, students will receive instruction in an intermittent remote learning environment.

The campus will notify all close contacts of a probable positive and lab-confirmed positive case by phone. Parents are  expected to pick up their child within 30 minutes and will receive additional instructions on criteria for returning to school. 

All teachers, staff and families of all students in a school who participate in any on campus activity will be notified of a probable positive and lab-confirmed positive test by email at regular intervals.

Notices are sent on reported cases for which the individual participated in any on campus activity within 48 hours of the start of symptoms OR positive test results.  

The district will notify Bell County Public Health District on any reported case.

When a student at school displays symptoms of COVID-19, the school nurse will provide a clinical assessment to determine if and when a student needs to be sent home. Students who are deemed ill will be separated from their peers as they wait to be picked up. Other students will be removed from the classroom and taken to an alternate location on campus so that the classroom can be disinfected.

Students or staff who live with a student who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms will also be asked to quarantine. Belton ISD staff will provide further instructions on when they can return to school. 

Please reference the following information to know when a student or staff member will be allowed to return to face-to-face At-School Learning.

COVID-19 Positive Test

Must stay home until ALL of the following criteria are met:

• 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared
• Patient sees improvement in symptoms
  24 hours have passed with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medication

If the individual believes the test was a false positive, and wants to return to school before completing the above stay at home period, they must meet one of the following criteria:

• Obtain a medical professional's note clearing the individual for return based on an alternative diagnosis (the note does not need to indicate what the alternative diagnosis for health privacy reasons, but it must state their symptoms are non-COVID-19 related).

OR

• Obtain two negative PCR acute infection tests at least 24 hours apart.

Experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms

Must stay home until one of the following criteria outlined by Bell County Public Health District are met:

• Have a negative COVID-19 approved accute infection test (RT-PCR)* A negative rapid antigen must be confirmed with a RT-PCR test. Bell County Public Health District does not accept negative antigen tests. Antibody tests are also not accepted. To locate COVID-19 testing sites, click here or review a list of local providers here. 

OR

• Obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for return based on an alternative diagnosis (a note does not need to indicate what the alternative diagnosis is for privacy reasons, but it must state their symptoms are non-COVID-19 related),

OR

• Have completed the 10 day isolation protocol and at least 24 hours has passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications) and had improvement in symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath).

Close Contact At School with Someone with COVID-19 Positive Test - Updated 12/4/20

Students who have come in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 must self-isolate. They will be allowed to return to school 10 days after the last close contact if they remain asymptomatic. If they remain asymptomatic and also have a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken on or after the fifth day after the last contact, they may return to work/school after 7 days.

Students returning under these conditions must continue to monitor for symptoms for 14 days after exposure and wear a face mask at all times.

Close Contact (Non-School Related) with Someone with COVID-19 Symptoms or Lab-Confirmed Positive Test - Updated 12/4/20

Students who have come in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 must self-isolate. They will be allowed to return to school 10 days after the last close contact if they remain asymptomatic. If they remain asymptomatic and also have a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken on or after the fifth day after the last close contact, they may return to work/school after 7 days.

Students returning under these conditions must continue to monitor for symptoms for 14 days after exposure and wear a face mask at all times.

Exception: If a student is a close contact to someone with COVID-19 symptoms and the person is cleared medically (negative test or alternative diagnosis), then the student is clear to return to school.

Exception: If a student is a close contact to someone with COVID-19 symptoms and the person is cleared medically (negative test or alternative diagnosis), then the student is clear to return to school.