Over the last few weeks, the numbers of COVID-19 cases in Santa Clara county have risen. While we remain in the moderate (orange) tier, our current numbers actually put us into the substantial (red) tier – the county guidelines require a two week trend to change the tier. Even with the increase in cases, the County has removed the requirement to quarantine after traveling outside of the state or by plane. However, they recommend the following guidelines taken from the County of Santa Clara Department of Public Health Website:
Currently, there is no legal requirement that you get tested or quarantine just because you traveled outside the state or country. But the COVID-19 virus is still circulating across the region, country, and globe, and if you are returning to Santa Clara County after travel, you should ask yourself the following questions:
– In the areas you visited, were the COVID-19 case rates higher than in Santa Clara County?
– Did you engage in any activities that would increase your risk of exposure? (Examples include attending events with people outside your household, having contact with people who were not wearing face coverings, or attending large in-person events.)
If you answered yes to either question, consider taking the following steps to protect yourself and others in the Santa Clara County community: reducing your contact with people outside your household for 7-14 days after returning; getting tested during this period, ideally sometime between 4 and 7 days after your return; and taking extra care to always wear your face covering when you’re in public.
Due to the above recommendations, Yavneh’s updated travel policy is:
After travel by commercial plane:
1. Students must wait seven days before returning to campus.
2. Students must take a COVID test at least 5 days after returning and submit the negative results to Yavneh
After any travel, parents should consider the following questions:
1. Are your accommodations private (Air BNB, campsite) or shared (hotel, at someone else’s home)?
2. How many people will you be interacting with?
3. What type of transportation will you be utilizing (private car, commercial airline, public transportation)?
4. What are the Infection Rate and Positive Test Rate in the location to which you are traveling?
