Summary of the new DGS Guidelines
2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR, January 22
CAISL’s draft planning for the re-opening of classes on campus after the winter break.
January 22 Update: In anticipation of a growing number of Covid cases following our return from Winter Break and in response to new measures announced by the government on January 6, we have prepared the following broad procedural guidelines for parents. Most of what follows is translated directly from the DGS guidance document "Referencial Escolas".
In Case of Signs and Symptoms
If anyone in your household has any symptoms of Covid infection (cough, temperature above 37,5ºC, breathing problems, loss of smell/taste), everyone must stay home. You should communicate absence from school by email to nurse@caislisbon.org and studentabsence@caislisbon.org.
We still strongly recommend that you contact SNS 24 (Tel 808 24 24 24, Ext 9 for English) or your family or private doctor if anyone in your household has any symptoms of Covid infection however, we understand that lines are very busy and the system is slow. You may expedite suspected cases of COVID by arranging a professional test at lab or pharmacy since they will automatically communicate all positive cases to the SNS and this may expedite their contact with you.
What to do in confirmed cases
Positive cases must stay in isolation at home:
If there are no symptoms or mild symptoms, the positive individual must isolate for 7 days, in self-care and self-monitoring of symptoms. From the 8th day, isolation ends without the need for a test. If there is any change in the clinical picture (i.e. continuation of symptoms or increase in symptoms), SNS 24 must be contacted.
The individual(s) who tested positive should isolate from the rest of the household (where possible).
If you have a fever for more than 48 hours or a fever of more than 40º; shortness of breath/difficulty breathing; chest pain; change in the state of consciousness; appearance of cough with purulent sputum; vomiting or persistent diarrhea, among other symptoms, contact the SNS24 808 24 24 24 (Ext 9 for English) or 112 (emergency).
High Risk Contacts
High Risk Contacts are people who cohabit with the confirmed case, unless they have had a complete primary vaccination with a booster dose, or with a history of infection by SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 within 180 days of the end of isolation.
High risk contacts of positive cases must stay in isolation in the home;
i. If there are no symptoms, isolate for 7 days, in self-care and self-monitoring of symptoms.
ii. Perform a first professional (pharmacy or lab) test for COVID as soon as possible and ideally no later than the 3rd day after the date of last exposure to the confirmed case.
iii. Perform a second test on the 7th day after the date of the last exposure to the confirmed case. If negative, isolation ends.
iv. High risk contacts will receive a declaration of isolation from SNS but the declaration is not required to return to work/school unless the employer/school requires it. In these cases, CAISL will not in general require these declarations but reserves the right to, should an individual case seem to warrant it.
Low Risk Contacts
Low risk contacts of the confirmed case are all others who do not share the home with the confirmed case. This includes students in the same class/bubble.
i. Low risk contacts of a confirmed positive case are not required to isolate.
ii. In these circumstances, they are under passive symptom surveillance (if symptoms compatible with COVID-19 occur, contact the treating physician or the SNS24 Hotline).
iii. As soon as possible up to the 3rd day after the date of the last exposure to the confirmed case, a PCR (TAAN) or rapid professional use antigen test (TRAg) for SARS-CoV-2 should be performed.
Exceptions to Isolation Requirements
In accordance with Standard No. 015/2020 of the DGS, these measures do not apply to high-risk contacts with confirmed recovery from disease of COVID-19 for less than 180 days following the end of isolation and persons who present the complete primary vaccination schedule with booster dose.
All confirmed Covid cases must be communicated to nurse@caislisbon.org as soon as possible so our Nursing Team can internally follow the situation and be prepared should we be contacted by the Health Delegate about the positive case and the low-risk contacts. The Health Delegate may prescribe Covid testing for identified low risk contacts. Multiple confirmed cases in one class bubble may still result in the Health Delegate mandating closure of a whole class or section of the school.
Routine Health Checks
Please continue to check the temperatures of all members in your household each morning before coming to school. Temperatures of less than 37.5C indicate that all is well.
In addition to daily temperature checks we recommend that each member of your household takes a regular, weekly self-test. These are good at identifying asymptomatic Covid cases but are not sufficient to “clear” an individual who is or has been showing symptoms.
CAISL is a student-centered educational community in which we challenge ourselves and each other to do our best and to make positive contributions to our diverse and ever-changing world.