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    Dear Parent/Guardian:

    The Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) has learned that your child was in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and was infectious while at Boulder Creek High School on ________________.

    Now, that COVID-19 strain spreading in Maricopa County is the Delta variant, which is twice as contagious as other strains of COVID-19, especially if a person is not vaccinated. There is also some evidence that the Delta variant may cause more severe illness, particularly in younger people.

    Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), and MCDPH, close contacts are people who were within 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 while infectious for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, regardless of whether masks were worn. [Exception: in the K-12 setting, a student who was within 3-6 feet of an infected student is not considered a close contact if both students were engaged in consistent and correct use of well-fitting masks at all times. This exception does not apply to teachers, staff or other adults in the classroom setting.]

    This exposure does not mean that your child has COVID-19 or will necessarily get COVID-19. Per MCDPH, and in accordance with CDC and ADHS guidance, close contacts who are not fully vaccinated or have not tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days are to quarantine (stay) at home for up to 10 days. This includes being excluded from in-person school and extracurricular activities. Isolation and quarantine authority are delegated to MCDPH and outlined in Arizona Revised Statutes and Arizona Administrative code (below).

    ARS 36-624. Quarantine and sanitary measures to prevent contagion

    When a county health department or public health services district is apprised that infectious or contagious disease exists within its jurisdiction, it shall immediately make an investigation. If the investigation discloses that the disease does exist, the county health department or public health services district may adopt quarantine and sanitary measures consistent with department rules and sections 36-788 and 36-789 to prevent the spread of the disease. The county health department or public health services district shall immediately notify the department of health services of the existence and nature of the disease and measures taken concerning it. 

    AAC R9-6-361. Novel Coronavirus (e.g., SARS or MERS)

    1. Case control measures:
      1. A diagnosing health care provider or an administrator of a health care institution, either personally or through a representative, shall isolate and institute both airborne precautions and contact precautions for a novel coronavirus case or suspect case, including a case or suspect case of severe acute respiratory syndrome or Middle East respiratory syndrome, until evaluated and determined to be noninfectious by a physician, physician assistant, or registered nurse

        A local health agency, in consultation with the Department, shall determine which novel coronavirus contacts will be quarantined or excluded, according to R9-6-303, to prevent transmission.

      2. A local health agency shall:
        1. Upon receiving a report under R9-6-202 of a novel coronavirus case or suspect case, notify the Department within 24 hours after receiving the report and provide to the Department the information contained in the report;
        2. In consultation with the Department, ensure that isolation and both airborne precautions and contact precautions have been instituted for a novel coronavirus case or suspect case to prevent transmission;
        3. Conduct an epidemiologic investigation of each reported novel coronavirus case or suspect case; and
        4. For each novel coronavirus case, submit to the Department, as specified in Table 2.4, the information required under R9-6-206(D).
    2. Contact control measures:

    1. A local health agency, in consultation with the Department, shall determine which novel coronavirus contacts will be quarantined or excluded, according to R9-6-303, to prevent transmission.
       


    If your child is to quarantine per MCDPH and does not develop any they may end quarantine after 10 full days following their last exposure. Alternatively, if a COVID-19 test is performed on day 6 or 7 following their last exposure and is negative and your child remains asymptomatic, they may end quarantine after 7 full days following their last exposure. Please see for more detailed information.

    Regardless of vaccination or quarantine status, your child can develop COVID-19 for up to 14 days after their last COVID-19 exposure. You should consider getting your child tested for COVID-19 between 3-5 days after their last exposure and have them practice physical distancing and wear a mask for at least 14 days after their last exposure.

    High risk household members - If you are concerned about people living in the home who may be at higher risk for serious complications from COVID-19, Public Health recommends your child quarantine away from these persons as much as possible for the duration of the quarantine period.

    If your child develops symptoms - If your child experiences any they are to stay home and be tested for COVID-19. If your child tests positive for COVID-19 by PCR or antigen test, they must followwhich states people infected with COVID-19 are to isolate, regardless of vaccination status. Testing locations can be found by calling 2-1-1.

    For questions related to COVID-19, please call (602)506-6767 or visit . You can also visit CDC’s webpages forand

    For additional questions related to your child’s exposure at your school, please contact

    Thank you for your patience during this challenging time.

    Sincerely,

                                                   

    Marcy Flanagan, DBA, MPH, MA                                        Rebecca Sunenshine, MD, FIDSA

    Executive Director                                                                   Medical Director