Dear BUSC Community,

As we all deal with the omicron variant-driven resurgence of COVID-19 cases in our community and beyond, BUSC has updated its COVID-19 protocol in line with the the current (January 7, 2022) Alameda County ‘blanket’ Health Orders regarding quarantine and isolation that we are required to follow. In these, Alameda County has aligned with the recently updated California Guidance (Alameda County Guidelines).

Note that there are a few key changes:

• Minimum isolation and minimum quarantine times have been reduced to 5 days (from 10 days and 7 days, respectively)
• If you are double-vaccinated and eligible for a booster, but have not yet received your booster dose, you now must quarantine after a close-contact under the same rules as those who are unvaccinated.
• Tests recommended for use in exiting isolation and quarantine may now be over-the-counter tests. A PCR test is not required.
• Everyone who is exposed to someone with COVID-19, or tests positive themselves, is asked to wear a well-fitting mask around others, especially indoors, for a total of 10 days, even if their time in quarantine or isolation is shorter.

The following is a summary of the Alameda Health Orders and California Guidance. (Links to source documents are below)

If your player is tests positive or is likely to have COVID-19:

• he must** stay home (isolate) for at least 5 days since initial symptoms or positive test, whichever is earlier,
• isolation can end after day 5 IF symptoms are resolving/resolved AND there is no fever
• if ending isolation after day 5, one negative test on day 5 or after is recommended but not required
• without a negative test, isolation is recommended to be continued through day 10
• isolation should be continued as long as fever is present
• mask around others for 10 days, especially indoors

(** the requirement to isolate applies regardless of vaccination status, previous infection, or lack of symptoms)

If your player is designated a close-contact and he is..

(Fully Vaccinated and boosted) OR (Fully vaccinated and not yet eligible for a booster) OR (had confirmed COVID-19 within the past 90 days {tested positive using a viral test}):

• no quarantine is required,
• closely monitor for symptoms for 10 days
• recommend testing on day 5 after exposure
• mask around others for 10 days, especially indoors

(Not Fully Vaccinated) OR (Fully Vaccinated and booster-eligible but have not yet received their booster dose):

• the order requires at least 5 full days of quarantine, starting with the day after the last point of contact
• no in-person activities are permitted during the quarantine
• assuming no symptoms develop, the quarantine can be ended after 5 full days
• if ending quarantine after day 5, one negative test on day 5 or after is recommended but not required
• without a negative test, quarantine is recommended to be continued through day 10
• mask around others for 10 days, especially indoors
• schools operate under a special guidance for K-12 and, for school attendance, additional types of modified quarantine are possible, but this doesn’t apply to extracurriculars or sports

The definition of "close contact” is unchanged:

• Close contacts are people who were either (a) living within the same household, or (b) within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes total, with a person who is positive (or likely positive) for COVID-19
• The time window for determination of contact begins 48 hours prior to first symptoms or positive test, whichever comes earlier
• 'Contacts' of contacts do not have to quarantine (e.g., brother of a child who was designated a close contact by their school)
• Note - if your child is deemed to have had a close contact by their school, BUSC will accept this determination
• Note - BUSC considers a game or practice a “close contact” event by default

For players returning to play after a case of COVID-19, we refer you to the relevant Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics: American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines

Please contact the BUSC Health Officer, TJ Carrothers, at health@busc.org with any questions.