COVID-19 Info for Schools and Child Care

GENERAL GUIDANCE

• Washington State Department of Health’s What to Do When You are Sick with COVID-19 or Another Respiratory Virus (LINK)
• Washington State Labor and Industries Guidance for Preventing COVID-19 (LINK)
• Symptom Comparison Chart (Influenza, Norovirus, RSV, Cold, and COVID-19)

REPORTING COVID-19 CASES

All COVID-19 outbreaks and suspected outbreaks in schools and child care settings are required to be reported to the local health jurisdiction (WAC 246-101).

Department of Health guidance requires schools to notify The Snohomish County Health Department if:

• they suspect COVID is spreading in their cohort or 
• there are FIVE or more confirmed or suspected cases among a cohort in a 7-day period OR 
• multiple COVID-19 cases from positive tests comprising at least 20% of a cohort (students, teachers, or staff within a specified core group) within a 7-day period.

We ask facilities to report COVID-19 outbreaks/suspected outbreaks by using the COVID-19 Facility Outbreak Notification System that was developed by Washington State Department of Health (DOH) for non-healthcare settings. Please use this link COVID-19 Facility Outbreak Notification System (clicking on the link will direct you to the reporting page). Fill out the form to register.

Once the data is inputted, click “next page”. On the last page, you will see a green section with a link to a line list template and a section below that says, "upload file". We ask that you fully complete and upload the linked template with information on those who are ill. If you have additional reports related to the same outbreak, you can add additional cases to the same document and resubmit it.

If you have questions about reporting COVID-19 cases or the link is not working, please email us at SHD-CDQuestions@co.snohomish.wa.us or call 425-339-5278 to request a call back. We are more than happy to help assist in any way we can.

Letter and Notification Templates

Fall 2023 COVID Prevention Reminders Letter from Dr. Lewis

Classroom Closure Letter Template

Facility Closure Letter Template

General Parent/Guardian Notification Letter Template

COVID Exposure Notification Text or Robocall Script Template (added September 24, 2021)

ADDITIONAL Resources

• COVID-19 Symptom Decision Trees for Schools (DOH) 
• Supplemental Considerations to Mitigate COVID-19 Transmission in K-12 Schools (DOH)
• Staff Resource Guide
• School Flyer for Parents Sign

Reporting COVID-19

REPORTING IS STILL REQUIRED. Child care facilities must report all cases of COVID diagnosed by a medical provider or laboratory. Outbreaks (5 or more cases or 20% of a group) must also be reported. Individual cases identified through at-home testing are not required to be reported, but child care facilities are encouraged to contact the Child Care Health Outreach team for guidance (email: shd-childcarehealth@co.snohomish.wa.us or 425-252-5415).

Please use this link to report: COVID-19 Facility Outbreak Notification System FONT

Download, fill out, and upload this spreadsheet in the FONT report: Reporting Spreadsheet

COVID-19 remains a reportable illness to the Washington State Department of Health (WADOH). Child cares are still required to report individual cases of COVID-19 diagnosed by a medical provider or a laboratory, as well as OUTBREAKS AND SUSPECTED OUTBREAKS to the Snohomish County Health Department (WAC 246-101). Department of Health (WADOH) guidance requires child cares to notify the Snohomish County Health Department if:

• They suspect COVID-19 is spreading in their cohort OR
• There are FIVE or more confirmed or suspected cases among a cohort in a 7-day period OR
• There are multiple COVID-19 cases from positive tests comprising at least 20% of a cohort (students, teachers, or staff within a specified core group).

Facilities must report COVID-19 outbreaks or suspected outbreaks by using the COVID-19 Facility Outbreak Notification System that was developed by Washington State Department of Health (WADOH) for non-health care settings.

If you have questions about reporting COVID-19 cases or would like additional assistance, please email us at shd-childcarehealth@co.snohomish.wa.us or call 425-252-5415 to request a call back. We are more than happy to help assist in any way we can.

The Child Care Health Outreach Program is available for consultations on COVID-19 and other health and safety topics in child care at 425-252-5415 or by email at shd-childcarehealth@co.snohomish.wa.us

GENERAL GUIDANCE

• What to Do When You are Sick with COVID-19 or Another Respiratory Virus (LINK) – Washington State Department of Health
  • Snohomish County Health Department Health Alerts for Child Care Providers 
  • Child Care Health Outreach Monthly Newsletter
  • Blog Post: 4 Things to Know About Updated COVID Guidance

Additional Guidance

• COVID-19 Data Dashboard | Washington State Department of Health
• COVID-19 Resources and Recommendations (DOH)
  

COVID-19 VACCINATION 

Community-wide vaccination against COVID-19 helps keep children, staff and families healthy. Washington state provides all recommended vaccines at no cost for children through age 18, including the COVID-19 vaccines.

RESOURCES AND MATERIALS FOR STAFF AND FAMILIES

• COVID-19 Vaccine Information and Access in Snohomish County
• COVID-19 Vaccines: Common Worries and Facts (DOH)
• Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccines: What Parents/Guardians Should Know (DOH) 
• Vaccinating Youth (DOH)

Hygiene and cleaning

• Bleach Disinfectant Spray Bottle Labels and Guidance for COVID-19
• Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting for Child Cares A Guide for Early Care and Education Providers (DOH)
  
• Safely Cleaning and Disinfecting for Public Spaces (DOH)
• Classroom Cleaning Tips for Teachers (DOH)
• Safer Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting Strategies to Reduce and Prevent COVID-19 Transmission (UW)

Additional Resources

• Help Stop the Spread of Illness Poster
• COVID-19 Child Care Checklist

GENERAL GUIDANCE

UPDATED WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH GUIDANCE: What To Do When You Are Sick With COVID-19 or Another Respiratory Virus (LINK)

Blog Post: 4 Things to Know About Updated COVID Guidance

Current COVID-19 and respiratory illness guidance is available from the Washington State Department of Health (WADOH) or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

REPORTING COVID-19 

REPORTING IS STILL REQUIRED. 

Please use this link to report: COVID-19 Facility Outbreak Notification System

Download, fill out, and attach this spreadsheet to the report: Reporting Spreadsheet

Department of Health guidance requires overnight and day camps to notify The Snohomish Health Department if:

• they suspect COVID-19 is spreading in their cohort or
• there are FIVE or more confirmed or suspected cases among a cohort in a 7-day period OR
• multiple COVID-19 cases from positive tests comprising at least 20% of a cohort (students, teachers, or staff within a specified core group) within a 7-day period. 

FOR CAMPS AND YOUTH SPORTS WITH CHILDREN 13 YEARS AND OLDER

Please notify the Snohomish Health Department if:

• COVID-19 is suspected of spreading in the cohort or
• There are FIVE or more confirmed or suspected cases among a cohort in a 7-day period.

Facilities should report COVID-19 outbreaks or suspected outbreaks by using the COVID-19 Facility Outbreak Notification System that was developed by Washington State Department of Health (DOH) for non-health care settings.

If you have questions about reporting COVID-19 cases or the link is not working, please email us at SHD-Schools@snoco.org or call 425-339-5278 to request a call back. We are more than happy to help assist in any way we can.  

ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE

COVID-19 Resources and Recommendations (DOH)

COVID-19 Data Dashboard | Washington State Department of Health