Polk County Schools Shift To Strict Coronavirus Guidelines

Skyla Luckey
·2 min read

WINTER HAVEN, FL — Polk County Public Schools said Tuesday that it is now following more strict coronavirus guidelines than before for school employees.

As of Tuesday, the district is using the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention's safety practices for critical infrastructure employees.

According to the district, this requires school district employees who are exposed at their work site and are asymptomatic for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, to follow these procedures:

  • Employees who live in a household with a person who has tested positive for the coronavirus will continue to self-quarantine and not go to work.

  • Exposed employees will monitor their temperatures and symptoms, practice social distancing and have their work areas cleaned more frequently.

The full CDC guidelines for critical infrastructure employees can be found here.

“We are making this shift in conjunction with the Florida Department of Health in Polk County to ensure the safety of all our students and staff amid the ongoing pandemic,” said Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd.

The CDC’s safety guidelines for critical infrastructure were created to ensure the continuity of essential functions.

The school district said the Florida Department of Health will notify any school employee who has been in close contact with a person who has tested positive for coronavirus at their work site.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention defines close contact as being within six feet for at least 15 minutes.

For Polk County Public Schools K-12 grades, the district requires students must wear a face covering that covers both the nose and mouth and fits snugly against the sides of a person's face with little or no gaps at all times.

Students are required to wear masks at all times when on school grounds or district-provided transportation, unless the student is involved in an approved activity when a face covering would not be appropriate.

Guidelines that have been provided by the school district for students include:

  • Students and staff should check their temperatures and symptoms daily. Anyone with a fever or symptoms related to COVID-19 should not come to school.

  • One-way traffic patterns will be in place where and when feasible.

  • Nonessential furniture and equipment will be removed to allow for maximum social distancing

For the full list of safety guidelines for students, visit Polk County Schools Safety Protocols.


This article originally appeared on the Lakeland Patch