As schools continue to adjust instruction and safety protocols during the pandemic, it is important to acknowledge that COVID-19 will be around much longer than most people were originally thinking. Additionally, we will experience a convergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and our “normal” seasonal influenza experiences.

You may have heard the terms “Contact tracing” or “contact listing” in reference to tracking and responding to COVID-19 cases and outbreaks. While these terms are important for pandemic safety, they may be unclear for many. Close contact “tracing” is one of the primary tools we have at our disposal to get ahead of the infection curve. Contact tracing attempts to identify as many people who have potentially been exposed to the virus as possible, by “tracing” those who an infected person came into contact with. 

As many schools across the nation are being asked to report their confirmed and suspected cases of COVID-19, many schools are wondering how to handle the process of obtaining and reporting the sensitive information.

As schools implement their screening and entry management protocols, it is important to take into consideration how managing the staff and student entry takes shape and the logistical issues to consider in a COVID-19 environment.

As many school districts take on the newly adopted safety process of pre-certifying and screening of staff and students for COVID-19 symptoms, it’s worth noting how a digital approach can make this complicated process much more efficient and secure.

You may have heard of the concept of “pre-certification” or “pre-screening” as your schools have begun to finalize and practice the new safety measures for returning to school. Safety recommendations for re-opening schools and organizations frequently include the use of pre-visit temperature checks or other measures to pre-certify that those seeking attendance are not displaying COVID-19 symptoms.

It seems with all of the inconsistencies with the federal, state, and local guidelines, school administrators are struggling to find a solution for the overarching problem: How do we get our students, staff, and visitors back to our campuses safely?