• We welcome your questions and feedback at any time via APS Let’s Talk
• It can be accessed by clicking the “Contact Us” tab on the APS homepage at atlantapublicschools.us 
• We will add to our FAQs based on your questions.

• Starting August 1, 2023, COVID-19 surveillance testing will no longer be available at APS schools or buildings. 
• This is in response to a change in the Georgia Department of Public Health's ELC Reopening Schools Program.
• APS staff will no longer be required to participate in regular COVID-19 testing.

• Weekly COVID-19 Surveillance testing will no longer be available at APS schools and APS buildings. 
• However, at-home COVID-19 test kits will remain available for distribution. 
  • Test kits can be distributed to students, staff, and their families. 
  • Test kits may be distributed by request, through outreach events, and in situations where COVID-19 clusters or an increase in cases is identified. 

• APS is enrolled in the Georgia’s ELC Reopening Schools program. This program is designed to support safe, in-person instruction in kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools.
• For the 23 - 24 school year, the program will no longer support weekly COVID-19 surveillance testing in school buildings. However, the program will continue to support the distribution of at-home COVID-19 test kits to students, staff, and their families. 
• The program is funded through a grant from the CDC and administered by the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) to provide free COVID-19 testing to K-12 schools.
• For more information, please visit: https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-k12-testing

• Yes, individuals who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate at home for at least 5 days, regardless of vaccination or symptom status. 
• Please reference the Case Isolation + Close Contact Guidelines Tab for more information. 

• Yes, a self-report form must be submitted if your student has tested positive for COVID-19. This is in alignment with our communicable disease protocols. 
• Please use this link to submit a self-report if your student has tested positive for COVID-19: http://tinyaps.com/?CovidStudentForm

• No, students exposed to a COVID-19 case do not need to quarantine at home if they remain without symptoms.
• If they develop symptoms after exposure, they should stay home and follow isolation guidelines.
• Please reference our Case Isolation + Close Contact Guidelines for more information.

COVID Cases are tracked through collaborative efforts with School Nurses, Health Services, and Data Information Group to collect and report data. COVID-19 related questions or concerns should be emailed to: Covidreports@atlanta.k12.ga.us

Close Contact through Proximity and Duration of Exposure: Someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinically compatible illness) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes). 

An infected person can spread SARS-CoV-2 starting from 2 days before they have any symptoms (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days before the positive specimen collection date), until they meet criteria for discontinuing home isolation. 

• Case investigation and case management will be conducted by the assigned school or district nurse in collaboration with Health Services and Fulton County Board of Health.
• Contact tracing will no longer be conducted for each case; however, investigators will continue to monitor for any additional cases (or symptomatic individuals).

• No, students exposed to a COVID-19 case do not need to quarantine at home if they remain without symptoms.
• If they develop symptoms after exposure, they should stay home and follow isolation guidelines.
• Please reference our Case Isolation + Close Contact Guidelines for more information.

According to DPH, “A COVID-19 cluster is defined as 4 or more students or staff (at least 1 must be positive via viral test) with symptom onset or specimen collection dates within a 7-day period who do not share a household, do not have another more likely source of exposure, and are epidemiologically linked in the school setting or school-sanctioned extracurricular activity”.

If a cluster is confirmed, APS will work with local public health officials to identify additional prevention strategies. This may include recommending masking in the classroom or school-related activities, distributing at-home COVID-19 test kits, or temporarily pausing school activities to give ample time for cleaning.

• No, they cannot attend in-person instruction or work. They should be isolated per CDC guidelines.
• Please reference the Case Isolation + Close Contact Guidelines Tab for more information. 

• If a cluster of COVID-19 cases is identified, the school will communicate additional prevention strategies to the parents via written communication.

• COVID 19-vaccines are effective. They decrease the chances of getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines help keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19. Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, particularly people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

For hours and locations for vaccination sites and mobile units, or to download the parent consent form for minor patients, visit www.fultoncountyga.gov/covidvaccine. 

• Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 should complete one of the links below for self-reporting:
• Student self-report form: http://tinyAPS.com/?CovidStudentForm
• Staff self-report form: http://tinyAPS.com/?CovidStaffForm

• People who have been exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 and remain without symptoms should test 5 full days after last exposure.
• People who develop symptoms after an exposure should be tested immediately.

• COVID-19 tests are offered at private health care providers.
• COVID-19 tests are available at Specimen Points of Collection sites in collaboration with the Department of Public Health. An appointment can be made through the DPH website at https://dph.georgia.gov/covidtesting
• At-home COVID-19 test kits may be available at APS schools or buildings. Please contact your school nurse or business manager for information on how to obtain these kits.

• School nurses will continue to monitor the situation and provide guidance on additional mitigation strategies. They will remain on the lookout for any additional individuals who develop symptoms or test positive after exposure. 
• Individuals with symptoms or a positive test will be sent home to isolate themselves. 
• School nurses may send at-home COVID-19 test kits home for any students or staff who may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. 
• Deep cleaning of the classroom and other impacted areas will be conducted. 
• Written communication will be sent out to parents alerting them of the situation and providing additional guidance. 

• A long-term substitute or building-level designee will be assigned to the teacher’s classroom.
• Current substitute teacher plans will be used for the students affected.

APS encourages all students, families, and employees to continue to review and follow the most recent travel guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control (Domestic Travel During COVID-19 | CDC).