Health and safety protocols

The South St. Paul Public Schools (SSPPS) is committed to providing a safe, healthy and effective learning environment for each student and staff member. As we have done since the start of the pandemic, SSPPS will continue to follow the guidance from our health experts at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  MDH and CDC have issued updated guidelines for managing respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. If you experience symptoms of a respiratory virus, it is recommended to take the following steps:

Screen for symptoms at home. Stay home when you are sick.

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Stay away from others until:

• Symptoms have improved for at least 24 hours, and
• If a fever was present, it has subsided without the use of fever-reducing medication

Precautionary Measures

After resuming normal activities, it's important to continue taking precautions for the next 5 days to minimize the risk of disease transmission. This includes:

• Improving indoor air quality
• Practicing enhanced hygiene, such as frequent handwashing
• Wearing a well-fitting mask
• Maintaining physical distance from others
• Consider getting tested for respiratory viruses.

This updated guidance provides a unified approach to managing the risks associated with various common respiratory viral illnesses, including COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.