WPS changing COVID positive case isolation protocol

After reviewing the most recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Wichita Public Schools will change its COVID positive case isolation protocol to align with CDC guidelines, effective Wednesday, January 12.

The isolation period for an individual with a confirmed COVID case will be reduced from a minimum of 10 days to a minimum of 5 days.

• If the positive individual is fever free for 24 hours without medication, AND if the positive individual has resolving symptoms (meaning, symptoms are improving), then the individual can return to work/school as early as day 6 (day 0 is first day of symptoms).
• If the student/staff member is not fever free for 24 hours without medication AND feeling better by day 5, then the individual must continue to remain at home until they have met the 24 hours of being fever free with resolving symptoms.
• More details on the COVID protocol can be found here.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment, which provides funding for our COVID tests, has asked that we temporarily suspend our “test to stay” protocol in schools, which is giving daily tests to unvaccinated high-risk close contacts. KDHE said students and staff should remain in school, wear masks, and test if they have symptoms.

WPS is facing a staffing shortage due to the community spread of COVID following the holidays. Temporary closure of a school is a possibility due to the impact of COVID on school staffing. Parents are asked to have a childcare plan in place now in the event that data indicators cause us to send students at a school home for several days. The district hopes to be able to give parents 2-3 days’ notice before a school has to make a transition.

WPS offers free COVID testing for staff, students and parents. Please call (316) 973-4790 to schedule an appointment. COVID vaccination clinic information can be found at https://bit.ly/USD259Clinics.

More information can be found at www.usd259.org/wpsadvance.