Health & Wellness

View Notre Dame Academy's procedures relating to COVID-19.

When your student is sick, but does not have a known exposure to COVID-19:

The very first thing you need to know is your child's symptoms.

Symptom list:

• Fever of 100.4 or higher or chills
• Dry cough
• Shortness of breath
• Temporary loss of taste or smell
• Influenza-like respiratory symptoms
• Digestive problems (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea)
• Muscle/body aches 
• Significant fatigue
• Headache
• Sore throat

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Typically, vaccinated people are either asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms if they contract the Delta variant. Their symptoms are more like those of a common cold, such as cough, fever or headache, with the addition of significant loss of smell.

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2+ symptoms, even if parents think it might be allergies - the student must test or they can be deemed presumed positive and follow COVID-19 positive guidelines. "Allergy-like" symptoms are common, especially with the Delta variant.

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Vaccinated students with 2+symptoms still must test if their symptoms last more than 24 hours. 

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If someone is going home sick and must call in sick the next day, he/she must get tested to return to school.

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PCR test is needed, not rapid testing. Prevea and Bellin are turning it around in about 24 hours and appointments are plentiful. We also have contacts at both Prevea and Bellin that can help with scheduling if unable to get in the same day. 

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Do not send students to school if there is a pending test, even if feeling better. 

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If there is a negative test result, acute symptoms (fever over 100.4, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat) must be clear without any medication for 24 hours to return. Students with sniffles or infrequent cough may return as long as they do not require constant blowing of their noses and cough drops to get through the day unless they are easily able to stay 6+ feet from their peers. Masking is highly recommended until this passes. 

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If there is a positive test, a contact tracer will discuss any exposures in the two days (not 48 hours) prior to either symptom onset or date of test, depending on which came first. You may also be contacted by the school nurse.

• Myths about COVID-19 and Children
• Centers for Disease Control
• Brown County Health Department
• WIAA guidelines

Q: What is a variant virus and what does it mean for us? 

A: When a virus replicates, it makes mistakes, sort of like a typo. These mistakes are common and create mutations in the viral genetic pattern that can lead to changes in the viral proteins. When the proteins are altered enough to make the virus appear different to our immune system, this is considered a variant virus.  We see these changes frequently with other viruses, including influenza virus and HIV.  

Q: What coronavirus variants have been found?

A: For SARS CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, we are seeing variant strains of the virus emerge in different parts of the world. Some of these major variants are accounting for surges in infection rates in the United Kingdom (strain B.1.1.7), South Africa (strain 501Y.V2 or 1.351), and Brazil (strain P.1).  

Q: Will the vaccine protect against infection with variant viruses?

A: Scientists believe that our current vaccines will be protective against infection from variant strains of SARS CoV-2.  A recent small study suggests that the vaccine produces stronger immunity against variants than does natural infection (having COVID infection). 

Q: What can we do to limit the development and spread of SARS CoV-2 variants?

A: Safe behaviors: The same measures we know limit the spread of SARS CoV-2 –wearing masks, distancing from other people, handwashing, staying home when you have any signs of illness, following quarantine and isolation guidance—will continue to be vitally important for limiting the spread of variant viruses.

SARS CoV-2 vaccination: The sooner we are able to get people vaccinated against SARS CoV-2, the more people will be protected from the virus. The less chance the virus has to replicate, the less chance it will have to develop mutations and create new variants.  

Courtesy of Prevea/ HSHS Infectious Disease