In keeping with our commitment to share resources and information with those who are seeking it, below are two links for parents/guardians who are interested in learning more about the COVID vaccine and/or scheduling vaccine appointments.

https://www.vaccines.gov/

https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/vaccine-details/covid-19-vaccine

• The Center is run by Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at CHOP and one of the leading experts in children’s vaccines in the nation. He sat on the FDA committee that reviewed the vaccine data for children. 

Penn Medicine/Lancaster General Health is providing COVID-19 vaccines to individuals 5 years of age and older. A Pediatric vaccination clinic is now open at the Suburban Outpatient Pavilion. Appointments for this location can be scheduled online via MyLGHealth and through Centralized Scheduling by calling 717-588-1165.

For more information, click here.

For a more comprehensive list of vaccination sites, click here: 

https://www.vaccines.gov/search/

At this time, there are a variety of sites available in our community for any parents/guardians interested in scheduling a COVID-19 vaccination for their child. Sites offering the COVID-19 vaccine include local pharmacies; pediatricians’ offices; medical organizations such as Penn State Health, LGH Penn Medicine, and WellSpan Health; and others.

No, the COVID-19 vaccination is not required. Vaccinations are voluntary for any staff member or student.

The only time you need to show your vaccination card is if you are identified as a close contact and asked if you are vaccinated. We recommend that staff and students who are vaccinated should take a picture of their vaccination card and keep it in their phone’s camera roll. This will provide easy access to your card.  

Yes. The Centers for Disease Control has mandated face coverings be worn by people using public transportation no matter their vaccination status. The mandate extends to school transportation.

We continue to ask our entire school community to be mindful of COVID-19 symptoms and, if they exhibit symptoms, to stay home and contact their primary care physician. Symptom screening must occur at home before arrival at a bus stop or the school building.

* Some children, such as those with asthma, may cough normally. A child should stay home if they have a new or different cough.

** As always, if your child has a fever (100.4 or higher), vomiting, or diarrhea, we recommend keeping them home from school. These can be symptoms of COVID-19, but they can also be caused by many other common illnesses that children could spread at school.

No.

The PA Dept. of Health establishes isolation requirements. Staff member or parents/guardians can also contact their medical provider for this information. A member of our school nurse team will connect with the staff member or the parent/guardian to share the information we believe will come from the PA Dept. of Health.

Yes.

• The PA Dept. of Health defines a close contact as someone who was within 6 feet for 15 or more consecutive minutes of a COVID+ person.
• The PA Dept. of Health also notes that although the close contact definition is generally 15 consecutive minutes, there are circumstances where 15 cumulative minutes, or less than 15 minutes, may be used.
• The PA Dept. of Health is following the CDC guidance and adds the following exception to the definition of close contact:
• In the K–12 indoor classroom setting, the close contact definition excludes students who were within 3 to 6 feet of an infected student (laboratory-confirmed or a clinically compatible illness) if both the infected student and exposed student(s) correctly and consistently wore well-fitting masks the entire time.
• This exception does not apply to teachers, staff, or other adults in the indoor classroom setting.
• Note: students age 18+ should be considered students, not adults, for purposes of this definition.

Yes. We are working to finalize the details with Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health. Stay tuned for more information on this.

Yes. We will provide the PA Dept. of Health the information they request when we identify close contacts.

Yes. Parents/guardians will be notified through email like last school year.

Yes. An unmasked, unvaccinated person MUST quarantine per the PA Dept. of Health. The PA Dept. of Health will issue legally binding quarantine orders to anyone identified as a close contact. A member of our school nursing staff will contact parents/guardians of unvaccinated close contacts to provide the information we believe the PA Dept. of Health will share regarding their quarantine orders. The unvaccinated close contact is not permitted to be in school until the end of their quarantine period, unless otherwise directed by the PA Dept. of Health or their own medical provider.

No. Per the PA Dept. of Health, a fully vaccinated close contact with no symptoms does not need to quarantine. It is recommended that these individuals get tested 2-5 days after exposure, even if they don’t have symptoms.

As of October 1, 2021, the PA Department of Health is no longer allowing for the use of antibody testing to allow an unvaccinated close contact to be exempted from a quarantine. 

Yes, per the PA Dept. of Health.

Anyone entering any of our K-12 buildings (staff, students, visitors, etc.)

Yes. Alternative to a face covering may include a plastic face shield that covers the nose and mouth, extends below the chin and to the ears, and leaves no exposed gap between the forehead and the shield’s headpiece.

• Yes. The exemptions are listed below. 
• If wearing a face covering while working would create an unsafe condition in which to operate equipment or execute a task as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines. 
• If wearing a face covering would either cause a medical condition, or exacerbate an existing one, including respiratory issues that impede breathing, a mental health condition or a disability. 
• When necessary to confirm the individual’s identity. 
• When working alone and isolated from interaction with other people with little or no expectation of in-person interaction. 
• If an individual is communicating or seeking to communicate with someone who is hearing-impaired or has another disability, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication. 
• When the individual is under two (2) years of age. 
• When an individual is: 
• Engaged in an activity that cannot be performed while wearing a mask, such as eating and drinking, or playing an instrument that would be obstructed by the face covering; or 
• Participating in high intensity aerobic or anaerobic activities, including during a physical education class in a well-ventilated location and able to maintain a physical distance of six feet from all other individuals. 
• When a child/student is participating in a sports practice activity or event, whether indoors or outdoors. 

Yes. Wearing a mask on any type of school transportation is required under a Federal order.

Yes.

If the district does not have an exemption form for the student indicating they meet one of the exemptions, the following will occur:

• Staff members will privately and respectfully remind a student that masks are required and that they can get a mask in the health room or school office. 
• If a student continues to refuse to wear a mask, the school administrator will speak to the student. 
• If a student continues to refuse to wear a mask, the school administrator will contact the student’s parents/guardians. 
• If a student continues to refuse to wear a mask, the parent/guardian will need to determine if the student will either wear a mask or switch into our Hempfield Virtual Academy or Home Education. 

**As a reminder, this is a valid order until determined otherwise. Students must follow it in the school setting.*

The Hempfield School District expects anyone entering our K-12 buildings to adhere to this order. If someone is not wearing a mask and enters the building during the school day, they will be reminded of the order and asked to complete a Visitor Face Covering Exemption Form, if applicable. 

The Hempfield School District expects anyone entering our K-12 buildings to adhere to this order. We will presume that a spectator not wearing a mask at an indoor event meets the exemption requirements and has already discussed this with their medical provider.

Here is a link to the PA Dept. of Education’s FAQ.

• The PA Department of Health at 1-877-724-3258 
• The Governor’s office at 717-787-2500. 
• State legislators