Yesterday, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) released new guidance for school districts regarding how much information can be shared with the public (including parents and employees) with regard to COVID-19 cases in the district.
Based on this new guidance, the following changes will be made to North Tama's reporting of data:- Email notifications will no longer be sent for each new reported case. The district will provide weekly updates on the North Tama COVID-19 Data Dashboard, which can be found on the district website.
- When there are no active cases, the Data Dashboard will state the actual number (0).
- When the number of cases is between 1 and 5, the Data Dashboard will state, "5 or Fewer."
- When the number of cases is 6 or greater, the Data Dashboard will state the actual number.
All North Tama families and employees did receive an email on September 3 notifying them of positive cases in the district. It was the district's original plan to send an email like this any time a positive case of COVID-19 was identified in our school. This original plan was based on advice from the Iowa Association of School Boards legal team. The discontinuation of email notifications and the other changes listed above are being made based on the new, more specific guidance received from IDPH yesterday. IDPH's guidance is designed to protect the privacy of individual students and staff.
North Tama will continue to provide as much information as possible to inform the school community of the impact of COVID-19 on our district while protecting the privacy of those affected. Principals and/or Tama County Public Health staff will continue to make personal contact with families of individuals who have tested positive and individuals identified as close contacts with specific quarantine instructions. Principals, nurses, and other school employees that need to be involved in identifying close contacts will continue to share information as needed for the purpose of contact tracing.
A summary of the new IDPH guidance can be reviewed at this link.
North Tama will continue to provide as much information as possible to inform the school community of the impact of COVID-19 on our district while protecting the privacy of those affected. Principals and/or Tama County Public Health staff will continue to make personal contact with families of individuals who have tested positive and individuals identified as close contacts with specific quarantine instructions. Principals, nurses, and other school employees that need to be involved in identifying close contacts will continue to share information as needed for the purpose of contact tracing.
A summary of the new IDPH guidance can be reviewed at this link.
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