Updated Health Guidelines (LS OHS Memo)

Memo to:          The Loyola Schools Community

From:                Ma Henrietta O Dela Cruz, MD

                          Director

                          Loyola Schools Office of Health Services

Subject:             Updated Health Guidelines

Students who are symptomatic or are tested positive for COVID 19 should report the information directly to the Office of Health Services for verification (email : healthservices.ls@ateneo.edu; contact numbers 09189445997 or local 5110). Referrals may be received by the OHS during office hours from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm on weekdays and 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturdays. Notifications received after office hours will be attended to on the next office day. Verification may be done by OHS online or on-site.

For students enrolled in on-site classes who are verified to have highly suspect, probable, or confirmed positive cases, please be informed of the following:

1.  A quarantine period of 7 days will be advised.

2.  Confirmed positive students who have persistent symptoms will be unable to generate their Blue Pass entry codes at this time.

3.  If symptoms persist beyond the 7 days, an extension of the quarantine period will be advised, and OHS will duly notify the faculty of a need for an extension.

4.  If students wish to shorten their quarantine, they should take an RT-PCR test on the 5th day of symptoms, whereby clearance can be issued for a negative test if symptoms have resolved for at least 24 hours prior to the test. If RT PCR tests are not accessible for the student, antigen testing may be done. Faculty notifications will be sent c/o OHS.

For low-risk exposure defined as contacts of a confirmed or suspect case occurring in the presence of mask-wearing and physical distancing, please be informed of the following:

1. Students will be asked to report if they develop any symptoms and observe due diligence with health protocols in their own homes.

2. Those who are asymptomatic will be advised to continue with their on-site classes. There is no need to suspend their Blue Pass.

3. Faculty notification for asymptomatic exposed students will only be done for students who feel unable to properly attend their class and/or requirements due to the exposure situation.

4. Faculty who wish to cancel their classes should notify their respective department or program chair / dean.

For students with a higher risk of exposure e.g. close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 without masks or physical distancing in the last two days, please be advised to notify the Office of Health Services. The following measures will apply:

1. Students will be advised to quarantine for 5 days. Their Blue Pass entry will be suspended for the said period. Students will be monitored daily by the OHS.

2. If symptoms do not develop, they will be allowed to return to onsite classes. Faculty notification will be done by OHS to allow students to work online.

Students who have respiratory symptoms which may not necessarily fit into the case definition of COVID-19 will still be asked to observe for a minimum of 5 days since the development of secondary symptoms may still happen within the observation period.

For students in online classes, similar protocols will apply. Unvaccinated students, however, are asked for a 10-day observation period.

The said protocols are outlined by the DOH in their advisory regarding significant close contacts (DM 2022-0013).

Thank you very much.