Do you have a general question for the COVID Response Team? Email us at staffreport@rwps.org.
Q. When will RWPS drop the face covering requirement?
At the September 20, 2021 School Board meeting, the Red Wing School Board approved the COVID Team's recommended new case matrix for determining when face coverings may come off or go back on, the recommendation follows Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
Red Wing Public Schools will ease face covering requirements when new COVID cases drop to safer levels for three weeks in a row in Goodhue County.
Currently, masks are required for all students and staff in grades preK-12 when transmissions are “substantial” or “high” on the CDC scale.
Goodhue County is in the “high” level of community transmission.
Goodhue County COVID Case Rate - September 20
When Goodhue County case numbers drop to “moderate” for three consecutive weeks, face coverings will be recommended but not required at Red Wing High School.
When Goodhue County case numbers drop to “low” for three consecutive weeks, face coverings will be recommended but not required for all grades.
See matrix above.
Q: A household member has COVID. Can I still send my child to school?
A: This depends on the age of your child. The simple answers are:
- E-6 students must quarantine;
- Grade 7-12 students may come to school if they exhibit no symptoms, but we recommend they stay home.
The building nurse will go through the specifics for your case when you call to inform the district that a household member has a confirmed case of COVID-19.
Here are more detailed explanations:
Grades E-6
Red Wing Public Schools requires early childhood to grade 6 students to quarantine 14 days from the last date of exposure to the infected person. If the infected person is unable to isolate from the rest of the family for a full 10 days (this isn’t always possible in some households), the quarantine period for an E-6 student could be up to 24 days.
The reasons for the quarantine requirement include the fact children under age 12 cannot be vaccinated.
Grades 7-12
Red Wing Public Schools will not require students in the upper grades to quarantine, provided they wear masks at all times while inside Red Wing High School.
Because the Delta variant is so transmissible, however, we do recommend that an exposed high school student stay home and quarantine for 14 days. This will help prevent more cases.
Anyone age 12 and older is eligible for vaccination and we highly recommend your child gets vaccinated if they are not. This provides added protection in the event of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19.
High school students who come to school after an exposure must monitor for symptoms. They must stay home and be tested immediately upon exhibiting even a single COVID-19 symptom.
Note: These attendance protocols may change if COVID-19 transmission levels escalate or the Centers for Disease Control and the Minnesota Department of Health adjust their recommendations.
Q: My child said, “I don’t feel well today.” Should she stay home?
A: Yes. And any siblings in grades E-6 should stay home as well.
The ill child should be tested for COVID-19 immediately or stay home for 10 days.
Know the symptoms:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Everyone in the household should carefully monitor for symptoms.
Q: The school year began with an indoor mask mandate. What metric is the district using to determine when masks will be optional?
A: The Red Wing School Board voted Aug. 16, 2021, to require masks because local COVID-19 transmission is “high” on the CDC scale. The recommendation is to keep the mandate as long as the rate is “substantial” or “high.”
The board is expected to discuss a local case rate or number grid at the Sept. 20 meeting. These numbers would serve as guidelines for when masks might be optional instead of required.
