Here's How Saddleback Valley Unified Deals With COVID-19 Cases

MISSION VIEJO, CA — Classes are back in full swing at Saddleback Valley Unified School District campuses following a winter break, and some parents may wonder what to do if their child ends up testing positive for COVID-19.

Orange County has experienced a surge in COVID-19 cases fueled by the omicron variant of the coronavirus. Hospitalizations have exceeded 1,000 patients, and the average daily case rate jumped from 71.8 on Monday to 108 on Tuesday, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency.

As of Wednesday, 20 students and 80 staff members in the district had tested positive for the virus, according to the district's COVID-19 dashboard.

Here's what happens if a child tests positive for COVID-19.

Informing The School

If a child tests positive or is suspected of having the coronavirus and is awaiting test results, parents must keep the child at home and notify the school's office, the district said.

"We like that our families have the opportunity to speak with someone at their child’s school site because our relationship with our community is important to us," Wendie Hauschild, the district's director of communications and administrative service, said.

Unvaccinated students must also stay home and inform the school if a member of the household tests positive.

Staff members must also inform schools if they test positive.

Reaching Out To Affected Individuals

Once a case is confirmed, the school will notify people who were in close contact with the positive student or staff member and provide them with further directions, the district said.

"The school office also follows up with the parents or guardians of the student with the positive result to begin setting up learning opportunities for the student," Hauschild said. "In most cases, once the initial contact is made by the office staff, the student’s teacher reaches out and provides the specifics of the learning."

Vaccinated Students Returning To School

A student who tested positive for the coronavirus must isolate for five days and may return to school after the fifth day if she shows no symptoms and has a negative test result, according to the California Department of Public Health.

If a student doesn't get tested, or if his symptoms improve, he may return to class after 10 days of self-isolation.

A student who has been vaccinated against the coronavirus and has been in close contact with someone who tested positive does not have to self-isolate, California health guidelines said.

The student does have to get tested after five days from being notified of the exposure and must wear a well-fitted face covering for 10 days when around other people.

Unvaccinated Students Returning To School

The return-to-school policy for unvaccinated students depends on face coverings being worn at the time of exposure, California health officials said.

If face coverings were not worn, a student must self-isolate for at least five days. After the fifth day, the student may return to class if she receives a negative test result. But she must wear a face covering for five more days.

If face coverings were worn, and no symptoms are present, a student may still attend class.

Students must not participate in extracurricular activities at school for at least 14 days, the California Department of Public Health said.

If a student does show symptoms after being exposed and wearing a mask, he must self-isolate for five days. A student can return to class if a negative test result is obtained after the fifth day and he no longer shows any symptoms.

City News Service contributed to this report.