Coronavirus (COVID-19)

UPDATED QUARANTINE GUIDELINES
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SPPS has changed its quarantine time for close contact exposure outside of household members, based on the recent changes put in place by the CDC and MDH. For further information on what these changes mean for you, please consult the link below:
SPPS COVID-19 Student and Family Guidelines and Employee Workplace Manual
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Saint Paul Public Schools has created a manual, aimed at keeping students and their families informed on how to prevent the COVID-19 virus and steps to take should they contract the illness or come in contact with someone with a COVID-19 diagnosis. Dowload the Student and Family Guidelines here.
The Guidelines contain several helpful videos. Two of the most notable are:
A staff manual has also been developed, with details specific to working in the school setting. Download the Employee Workplace Manual here.
How to Report COVID Concerns
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A red button has been placed on several prominent pages of spps.org for people to report COVID-19 concerns. If you have a COVID concern and have been on SPPS property, you are encouraged to report it the same day using this online system. A phone number is listed for families who need to report in Spanish, Hmong, Somali or Karen.
SPPS works closely with the Minnesota Department of Health to determine action steps for a reported case of COVID-19. Guidance from local and state health officials will determine if further communications are needed. For more information, please refer to the COVID-19 Communications Protocol.
Watch this short video to see how the reporting process works.
SPPS has also created a SPPSCOVID Dashboard webpage. This webpage includes graphs that show figures for potential COVID cases reported to the district's COVID response team, along with positive cases, and can be broken out for staff and students. There are also links to multiple state and county data resources.
-Updated on 11/19/20
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Other COVID Notification Programs
The state of Minnesota has created a COVID-19 smartphone notification system that allows you to be notified through an app if you've been near someone who tests positive for the virus. COVIDaware MN is not a contact tracing app but uses blue tooth technology to provide notification alerts. The app is designed to protect privacy and does not use or store personally identifiable information. The state encourages all Minnesotans to download the free app. To learn more, visit the COVIDaware MN website.
Health Start Clinics
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Health Start Clinics Are Open
Most SPPS high school Health Start Clinics are open and available for scheduling appointments. Most Health Start Clinics serve students ages 12-18, and services include urgent in-person mental health care, medication management for depression and anxiety, sexual health concerns, check-ups and vaccines, non-respiratory illness, injuries and asthma follow-up. They can also do winter sports sports physicals. This webpage lists the Health Start Clinic locations, hours of operation, and further details.
Please note, the Washington Tech site can provide immunizations and flu shots for students in Pre-Kindergarten through high school on Mondays.
-Updated on 11/23/20
Important Information and Resources
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Free COVID Testing in Ramsey County and Other Available Support Services
COVID-19 Testing & Important Community Resources Update
Testing remains an important strategy in the fight against COVID-19. There are more options for testing now than ever before. Anyone who has symptoms should isolate and be tested right away. Those who have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19 should quarantine following Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines, and be tested 5-7 days later.
Ramsey County residents can order COVID-19 saliva tests on the Vault Health website. This at-home saliva test is offered at no cost from the State of Minnesota, and you will not be asked for payment information. You will be asked for insurance information if you have it, but it is not required to test at home. Each test needs a unique email address, and a photo ID is required.
Free saliva testing is also offered daily at Roy Wilkins Auditorium (175 Kellogg Blvd). For more information on COVID-19 testing options, visit the Ramsey County website.
As a reminder, everyone should stay home when they are sick, wear a face covering, social distance, wash their hands frequently, and follow the guidance from Governor Walz in Executive Order 20-99.
In addition to testing, the county and other local organizations have resources available to support mental health, childcare, food and other needs that have been growing due to the pandemic. A few of these resources include:
- Ramsey County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative: Resources for schools to help support children’s mental health.
- Minnesota Black Community COVID-19 Hotline: Support for Minnesota’s African American community, 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Call 612-254-1145 for important information about COVID testing sites and resources that support food security, physical and mental health, employment, housing, childcare, legal rights and other COVID-19 related challenges.
- HACER (Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment Through Research): COVID-19 hotline providing information in English and Spanish about testing, self-isolating and other resources. The hotline is 651-304-6145 and is answered weekdays from 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Ramsey County Children's Mental Health Collaborative has put together a Youth Mental Health Emergency Crisis Guide that outlines a step-by-step response for schools and health care providers.
-Originally posted on 11/23/30
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Immunization and Flu Shot Clinics for Saint Paul Youth
Immunizations are available for Pre-K through 12th grade students at the Washington Tech Health Start Clinic on Mondays. Student Placement Center (2102 University Ave. West) also has vaccinations available for students with no insurance or state insurance programs on designated days. Appointment are preferred at Student Placement Center but walk-ins are welcome. Families should call 632-3763 to schedule or for more information.
-Updated on 1/21/21
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Minnesota Department of Health Key Information
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has instructed schools to follow a Decision Tree map designed for schools in determining if students or staff exclusion status due to COVID contraction or exposure. View the Decision Tree document here. Translated versions can be found in the right margin of this webpage, under COVID-19 resources.
MDH has a webpage devoted to Schools and COVID-19. View the webpage here. It also has a COVID webpage for Spanish speakers, as well as webpages in Hmong and Somali.
Take the same precautions recommended for avoiding colds and flu:
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough.
Link: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/prevention.html
MDH has also put out a video that explains in a very visual way, how the virus spreads. View the YouTube video here.
-Updated 1/12/21
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How to Protect Yourself
Practice social distancing by avoiding close contact with others, staying home if you are sick, and cleaning and disinfecting your home.
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html
Halloween. Dia de los Muertos. Thanksgiving. Large gatherings are historically common with these fall celebrations. However, extra consideration needs to be taken this year. The Minnesota Department of Health now has a webpage with tips and advice and how to stay safe during the pandemic.
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COVID Vaccine Information
- CIDRAP has put out an infographic to help pregnant people determine if they should take the COVID vaccine. "I'm pregnant. Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine?" walks you through the benefits and risks to getting vaccinated if you're pregnant, while providing information on what the experts are recommending.
- The CDC has released a brief Frequently Asked Questions About the COVID Vaccine video, translated into Spanish.
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Additional COVID symptoms have been identified since the virus appeared last spring. This screening poster will be posted at all SPPS buildings open to traffic.

SPPS COVID-Lead Nurse Assistance
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SPPS Licensed School Nurses designated as COVID Leads are also available for consult:
- Mondays-Thursdays, 7:00AM-6:00PM
- Fridays, 7:00AM-4:30PM
They can be reached via email at covid19@spps.org.
COVID-19 Resources
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- Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 hub
- COVID-19 Decision Tree for People in Schools, Youth, and Child Care Programs
- SPPS COVID Dashboard
- Minnesota Black Community COVID-19 Hotline
- COVID hotline for Spanish speakers
- Hand hygiene curricula for students and adults/print materials (MDH)
- Schools/childcare mitigation guidelines (CDC)
- People who are at higher risk for severe illness (CDC)