Health and Travel During COVID-19

To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, Catlin Gabel has updated its policies related to illness and travel. We also have organized a variety of resources to help you determine what to do if you think you’ve been exposed to the virus.

When Feeling Sick

Students and employees are expected to stay home when ill. Below is a list of primary illnesses and timelines for return created by the Oregon Health Authority. Please be aware that these are the shortest time to return, some individuals might need to stay home longer based on the illness.

Parents/guardians will need to still submit an “attendance change request,” which is available in the parent portal when your child is absent. Employees should follow usual reporting protocols for sick time, unless COVID-19 exposure is possible. Follow guidelines listed in the employee portal.

Symptoms and Response

• Fever of 100.4F or higher: Individuals must be fever free (without taking fever-reducing medicine) for at least 24 hours AND after a COVID-19 test is negative. OR 10 days after fever breaks without a test.
• New cough or difficulty breathing: Individuals must be fever free (without taking fever-reducing medicine) for at least 24 hours AND after a COVID-19 test is negative. OR 10 days after fever breaks without a test.
• Headache with stiff neck or fever: Symptom-free with orders from doctor to school nurse. Follow fever instructions if fever is present.
• Diarrhea (3 loose stools in a day or not able to control bowel movements): Symptom-free for 48 hours with orders from doctor to school nurse.
• Vomiting (one or more unexplained episodes): Symptom-free for 48 hours with orders from doctor to school nurse.

Sick Students On Campus

• Students who are ill will be escorted to the “isolation room,” which is on the ground floor of The Barn. Parents or guardians will be contacted to arrange a pick-up within the hour.
• The Health Coordinator, contracted through Joffe Emergency Services, will contact families and coordinate pick up.

For More Information

• Our Communicable Disease Manual, which was reviewed and edited by Catlin Gabel’s medical advisor and infection disease prevention and control specialist, provides a full list of our plans.
• Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) complete list of symptoms and responses.

Potential Exposure to COVID-19

• At this time, anyone who is exposed to COVID-19 MUST stay home for 14 days.
• If any community member (employee, student, parent/guardian) or one of their household members is awaiting COVID-19 test due to illness or exposure, no one in that household should come to campus.
• Any student or parent/guardian who tests positive, please contact the Assistant Head of School. Any employee or member of their household test positive, please contact HR. No one should come to campus.
• Further protocols and guidelines are available in our Pandemic Management Plan.

Travel Guidelines

Catlin Gabel follows the State of Oregon’s travel and quarantine recommendations for students and employees as stated by the OHA, with one exception: Given Portland’s close proximity to Southern Washington, non-essential travel to that area will be considered local and not require quarantining. Relevant details are below, and OHA’s travel recommendations can be found here.

• “Non-essential travel” is for the purpose of tourism, recreation, or any other purpose not defined in “essential travel.”
• “Essential travel” includes work, study in an educational institution, and participation in K-12 school sports, youth and club sports, as well as a family emergency.
• Quarantining is no longer recommended for fully vaccinated individuals.
• Further details can be found in our Pandemic Management Plan.