Universal indoor masking for staff and students was instituted at Nikiski North Star Elementary School and extended for two weeks at Paul Banks Elementary School in Homer on Thursday as COVID-19 cases continued to surge statewide and on the Kenai Peninsula.

The mask policy at Nikiski North Star, which had a school community COVID positivity rate of 3.96%, will be in place through Oct. 6, when it will be reevaluated. The policy at Paul Banks, which had a school community COVID positivity rate of 1.54%, will be reevaluated on Oct. 5.

As of Thursday, 11 KPBSD schools — not including schools in “small communities” — were operating with universal indoor masking for staff and students. Nanwalek School was operating remotely due to a seven-day “hunker down” order issued by local community authorities, effective Aug. 25. The school is expected to open to on-site learning on Sept. 27.

Since the school district began formally tracking cases of COVID-19 in schools on Aug. 23, 382 positive test results from students and 66 positive test results from staff have been reported. Those figures include 67 positive results from students and 16 positive results from staff from the last seven days.

People can confidentially report a positive COVID-19 test for themselves or their child to their school nurse or to Nurse Miller by calling 907-260-2391 or by emailing MMiller@kpbsd.k12.ak.us.

KPBSD quarantine protocols

Unvaccinated, asymptomatic close contacts of someone who is COVID-positive must immediately quarantine. They can return to school one to two weeks after exposure once cleared by public health.

Unvaccinated, symptomatic close contacts of someone who is COVID-positive must immediately isolate. If that person tests positive, they must keep isolating. If they test negative, they must stay home while symptomatic or until finished with seven- to 14-day quarantine, whichever is longer, then talk to a health care provider and consider testing again before returning to school.

Vaccinated, asymptomatic close contacts of someone who is COVID-positive do not need to quarantine. They must get tested within three to five days of exposure, must wear a mask for 14 days and should carefully monitor for symptoms over the next two weeks.

Vaccinated, symptomatic close contacts of someone who is COVID-positive must get tested and immediately isolate. If that person tests positive, they must keep isolating. If they test negative, they must stay home while symptomatic, then talk to a health care provider and consider testing again before returning to school.

Regardless of vaccination status, symptomatic individuals with no known contact should immediately get tested and stay home. A positive test means that person must isolate for 10 days. A negative test means that person should stay home while symptomatic, then talk to a health care provider and consider testing again before returning to school.

The CDC distinguishes between quarantine and isolation. Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick, while quarantine restricts people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.

KPBSD’s full COVID-19 mitigation plan, as well as community case numbers and quarantine protocols for vaccinated and unvaccinated students is available on the district’s COVID-19 website at covid19.kpbsd.org.

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.