Good afternoon,
As you may be aware, there has been a recent increase in community and school related COVID-19 cases. As a result, DRHD will be implementing these temporary surge measures as an interim process pending case investigation.
As part of DRHD’s surge response to a significant increase in community and school related cases within Durham, the Health Department will be implementing a temporary measure during December 14-17 to proactively dismiss school cohorts, pending public health investigation of a school related case.
Once the principal notifies the school nurse about a parent or staff reporting a positive PCR test result (not a rapid test result), the nurse will identify if the case in currently a laboratory confirmed case on DRHD’s intake board pending case investigation. If the case is on the intake board the PHN will provide an early dismissal letter to the principal. This will enable the principal to dismiss the cohort pending full case investigation by public health. This is an interim process, line lists will not be collected until full case investigation is completed.
Please note, during the proactive dismissal process attestations of vaccination status will not be offered to cohorts that are grades 7-12.
Thank you again for your patience and support as we work through this process.
David Wright
Associate Director, Corporate Services
Jim Markovski
Associate Director, Equitable Education
Kerri Stewart
Manager of Health & Safety
