Dear Park West Families,

With the fall/winter cold/flu/virus season upon us, we wanted to send a health update to give you a reminder about how to keep your family healthy, what to do when your child is exhibiting symptoms of illness and what to do if your child has a COVID-19 exposure.

Triple-demic?

Have you heard the term triple-demic in the news recently? It describes the increase and spread of three respiratory viruses (COVID-19, influenza and RSV) simultaneously. All three viruses are at a high level in many areas of the country, including Chicago, earlier than is typically seen. How can we protect our children and families from getting sick during this time of increased illness? 

  1. Have all eligible members of your family vaccinated against COVID-19 and the flu. Be sure to get your fall boosters for the highest level of protection. 

  2. Stay home and keep your children home if they are sick. Our return to school guidelines require children with any respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms to meet the following requirements in order to return to school:

    • Resolution of or improvement in symptoms, including 24 hours free of fever, vomiting and diarrhea without medication; AND

    • Negative COVID-19 test results. The test can be PCR, lab rapid or an at-home rapid test. If symptoms persist and you used an at-home test, the CDC and FDA recommend retesting in 24-48 hours.

  3. Wear a mask in crowded indoor environments, especially now that the community COVID-19 level has increased to MEDIUM.

Reminders for COVID Exposures

With increases in COVID-19 levels in the community, we wanted to remind all families of the precautions to take after an exposure. Park West will be enforcing mask wearing for 10 days post exposure to a positive case. The CDC no longer defines Close Contacts but addresses factors that indicate a higher transmission risk. For any positive cases at school, Park West will require that all students and staff in the classroom with the positive individual within 2 days of their symptom onset or positive test result, wear a mask at school through 10 days post their last exposure. 

After being exposed to a positive case of COVID-19, all individuals should take the following preventative measures:

  • Symptom screening for 10 days. If the exposed individual develops any symptoms of COVID-19, which include fever (temperature greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit), chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle/body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea, they should isolate at home and test for COVID-19.

  • Masking through 10 days post-exposure. Wear a mask around others for 10 days after the exposure. Park West requires staff and students with a known exposure to wear masks at school through day 10 post exposure.

  • Test twice during the week after exposure. Test for COVID-19 once during days 1-4 post exposure. If the result is negative, continue to screen for symptoms, test again once during days 5-7 and wear a mask through 10 days after exposure. If the test result is positive, isolate at home for 5 days post positive test result and email health@parkwestcoop.org. 

We hope this busy time of year is a healthy one for your family. Please do not hesitate to reach out to health@parkwestcoop.org with any related questions.