Vaccines, Omicron, Data, & Self-Isolation Activities
Covid-19 Vaccine Mandate
On October 1, 2021, Governor Newsom announced plans to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of vaccinations required before attending in-person school. Although vaccination requirements exist in the past with measles, mumps, and rubella, some problems do come up with this new demand. For example, 34,000 LA Unified students have not complied with the vaccine mandate before their second semester. By not meeting the inoculation deadline, students will be putting much strain on the leaders of the second largest U.S. school system. Governor Newsom has yet to confirm a date for when the vaccine mandate will take effect with the Board of Education.
Omicron Variant
Recently, the latest strain of Covid-19, the Omicron Variant, swept through the United States in December and January. It is identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a “variant of concern.” The Centers of Disease Control (CDC) publicly announced the first Omicron variant case in California on December 1, 2021. Researchers traced its first discovery to South Africa. Due to the increase of Omicron cases, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a mask mandate requiring all Californians to wear a mask indoors beginning December 15, 2021.
COVID-19 Impact on the Capistrano Unified School District
In the last 14 days, reported confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Capistrano Unified School District include:
Aliso Niguel High School - 151 cases
Capistrano Union High School - 6 cases
Capistrano Valley High School - 127 cases
Dana Hills High School - 116 cases
San Clemente High School - 96 cases
San Juan Hills High School - 91 cases
Tesoro High School - 47 cases
*Data taken from capousd.org regarding COVID-19 Case Dashboard. The data reflects the cases of students who were confirmed positive with COVID-19. The total current confirmed cases includes all members of staff and students who are positive.
Important Reminders:
If you are in close contact, the school will notify you through phone call and email.
COVID-19 Test Kits are available to all students given out by ASB next to the attendance office. In order to receive a kit, students must bring their IDs.
Timeline
November 2, 2021 - Youth COVID vaccine approved for children ages 5-11 years old, vaccines begin to be administered throughout the country.
November 4, 2021 - Employees working in large companies must get the vaccine or take daily COVID-19 tests. Biden Administration continues to work on travel-ban restrictions and mask requirements.
December 1, 2022 - First case of the Omicron variant is discovered in California.
Overview of COVID-19 Quarantine for Students
What are students doing during their time in quarantine? According to the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), people testing positive for COVID-19 must isolate themselves in their home or place for at least five days regardless of vaccination status. They may be released from self-isolation after five days once they no longer have COVID-19 symptoms, which can be confirmed through taking any type of COVID-19 tests. If one tests positive or chooses not to test, they must continue isolation for a total of 10 days. Students were interviewed and surveyed to answer the question, “What have you been doing with this time to yourself?”
One student explains she is spending most of her time in bed. Besides that, she continues to check Canvas and work on homework. To pass time, she’s also taking care of household chores and drawing.
Another student says, “Mainly in self-isolation - I felt extremely lethargic, which made me stay in bed all day and watch Youtube and Netflix.”
Have no idea how to entertain yourself while home recovering from COVID? Here’s a list of things to try:
Clean & declutter your workspace
Redo your cozy playlists
Do some reading
Paint or draw something
Look through old photo albums
Learn a dance routine
It is great to see students using their time in self-isolation to work, to relax, take on tasks or chores, or just have alone time while thinking about the people around them. Students can take this time to take care and focus on themselves and maybe even try a new hobby they wouldn’t have time to do otherwise. Let’s help each other get through this! We got this Titans.