Last Updated on January 3, 2022, 3:44 PM | Published: January 3, 2022

OKLAHOMA CITY (Free Press) — Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) students will come to school Tuesday under a new regimen to keep effects of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 at a minimum during the second semester.

Staff and teachers returned to work Monday to prepare the launch of the new semester as Omicron numbers continue a steady climb in Oklahoma and Oklahoma City.

All contact tracers for the district were briefed Monday morning on the new CDC guidelines and other procedures intended to minimize the risk to everyone in the district according to Director of Communications Courtney Morton Scott.

Measures to minimize risk

Several methods of controlling the spread of disease that were honed by the end of the last school year in 2020 are intended to reduce the spread of the virus.

All staff and students are expected to continue wearing a mask which has been proven to reduce the spread of especially airborne diseases like COVID-19 but not limited to that one.

Staff are still expected to report positive test results by calling (405) 587-CV19 (2819) and leaving a message for contract tracers who will call back with information about isolation dates and other resources.

Even if a positive test result came in during the break, staff are still expected to report that in order to allow the contact tracing team to assess if enough time has elapsed for a safe return.

Families are also expected to not send students to school who have tested positive or are sick. The student’s school should be called as with any illness.

Safety guidelines for students and staff

The district has summed up these guidelines:

• DO NOT come to school or work if you are sick.
• DO NOT come to school or work if you have symptoms associated with COVID-19. 
• DO NOT come to school or work if you or someone in your household is waiting on COVID-19 test results or has tested positive for COVID-19, unless the student has had COVID in the last 90 days or they are fully vaccinated AND has no COVID-19 like symptoms.
• DO NOT come to school or work if you have tested positive for COVID-19 and are within your required isolation period.
• DO NOT come to school or work if you have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. 
  *Exception: If a staff member or student has been identified as a close contact, is fully vaccinated and presents no symptoms, quarantine is not required. 

Here is the chart in English and Spanish the district has posted for how to handle situations around a COVID exposure:

12_30_UPDATED-Guide-for-COVID-19-Exposure-Isolation

Testing for OKCPS students and staff

Here are the details about testing:

• OKCPS COVID-9 testing is ONLY for OKCPS students and staff. 
• A parent or guardian must be present for a student to be tested.
• OKCPS will use our expanding testing sites to support our contact tracing efforts so anyone who is a close contact can be tested at the appropriate time.
• By expanding our testing sites, OKCPS can now offer free COVID-19 testing Monday – Friday. 
• To schedule an appointment, please use the links below.
  • By making an appointment, you are giving consent to OKCPS to administer the test and for your results to be shared with OCCHD and/or OSDH. 
  • YOU MUST have an appointment to be tested at an OKCPS site.

If you are being tested due to an exposure:

• Vaccinated staff should wait 3 to 5 days after exposure before being tested
• Unvaccinated staff should wait until day 5 or later to be tested.

If you are symptomatic, do not come to school or work while you wait to be tested OR while you wait for your test results.

Follow the links to your school for testing sign-up:

Monday & Wednesday

• MONDAY10am – Noon
  • Capitol Hill HS
  • Classen SAS HS at NE
  • Douglass HS
  • John Marshall HS
  • Northwest Classen HS
  • Southeast HS
  • Star Spencer HS
  • U.S. Grant HS 
• WEDNESDAY10:00am – Noon
  • Capitol Hill HS
  • Classen SAS HS at NE
  • Douglass HS
  • John Marshall HS 
  • Northwest Classen HS
  • Southeast HS 
  • Star Spencer HS
  • U.S. Grant HS
• 9:00 am – 11:15 am & 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
  • OKCPS Operations Center (staff only) 1pm – 4pm
  • Westwood Student Services

Tuesday, Thursday & Friday

• TUESDAY9:00am – 11:15am & 1:30pm – 3:15pm
  • OKCPS Operations Center (staff only)10am – Noon
  • Capitol Hill MS
  • Classen SAS MS
  • FD Moon MS
  • Jefferson MS
  • John Marshall MS
  • Taft MS
  • Southeast MS 
• THURSDAY 9:00am – 11:15am & 1:30pm – 3:00pm
  • OKCPS Operations Center (staff only)10am – Noon
  • Belle Isle Ent MS 7th & 8th
  • Mary Golda Ross MS
  • Roosevelt MS
  • Webster MS
  • Wheeler MS
  • Clara Luper Center for Education Services1pm – 4pm
  • Westwood Student Services 
• FRIDAY 9:00am – 11:15am & 1:30pm – 3:00pm
  • OKCPS Operations Center (staff only)1pm – 4pm
  • Westwood Student Services

Check this page for updated instructions on what to do upon arrival.

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