- Los Angeles Unified School District
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Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles Unified will update our COVID-19 site as more information becomes available. The following are frequently asked questions for families and employees about COVID-19 testing, vaccinations and the Daily Pass web app.
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NEW RESPONSE TESTING PROTOCOL (2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR)
Please note Los Angeles Unified updated these guidelines on August 17, 2023. Los Angeles Unified will continue to collaborate with our health partners at the county and state levels, as well as our panel of medical experts and university partners. We also continue to review updates to county, state, and federal guidance on a daily basis, and we may adjust policies accordingly.
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Will COVID testing be required during the 2023-24 school year?
Following the guidance of our medical advisors and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles Unified will continue to implement a “response testing” protocol for summer school programs and the 2023-24 school year.
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What should a student or employee experiencing COVID-19 symptoms do?
Symptomatic individuals will be sent home with a rapid antigen test kit to test immediately. Positive test results should be uploaded to Daily Pass at dailypass.lausd.net.
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Can an employee or student be tested by their own healthcare provider?
Yes. Test results must be valid and should be submitted as soon as possible after the test date; employees and families can upload test results at dailypass.lausd.net.
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Is masking required during the 2023-24 school year?
Indoor masking is recommended. Masking requirements are subject to change with updated guidance from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
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COVID SAFETY PROTOCOLS
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What happens if an employee or student tests positive for the virus?
"If a student or employee tests positive, the following instructions will be given:
Be sure the test result is uploaded into the Daily Pass.
If a student or employee has symptoms of Covid-19, stay home until at least five days have passed since symptoms first appeared and there is no fever for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication). Symptoms such as shortness of breath and cough should also improve before going back to a school site. Anyone who has a condition that severely weakens the immune system may need to stay home for longer and should consult with their healthcare provider.
If a student or staff who tests positive is asymptomatic, they still must stay home for at least five days after the positive test result.
A negative antigen test is not required to return days 6-10.
If symptoms return after isolation has ended, the individual should test with an antigen test.
Please refer to LACDPH Isolation Instructions: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/docs/HomeisolationenCoV.pdf -
Does an employee or student who tested positive need to take another test before returning to work or school?
No, a COVID test is not required for employees and students to return to work and school after 5-day isolation. They can end their isolation on Day 6-10, provided any symptoms are improving and they have been fever-free for the past 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.
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What is a “close contact” to a case and what does it mean to be a close contact?
You are a "close contact" if you shared the same indoor airspace with someone with COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period while they were infectious*.
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What should I do if I am identified as a close contact?
If you are identified as a close contact, you should monitor your health through Day 10 from the last date of exposure to the positive individual. Testing is recommended between days 3-5. Masking for close contacts is recommended, but not required.
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Will I know about an outbreak at my child's school?
If LACDPH determines that there is an outbreak, the school principal and the Compliance Task Force will follow specific protocols to inform the school community. The principal will communicate all necessary information to the school community, in accordance with LA County Department of Public Health guidelines. To see positive cases at a school site, the Report Card can be accessed here: https://achieve.lausd.net/covidreportcard
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AT-HOME RAPID ANTIGEN SELF-TEST GUIDANCE
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Where can I pick up an at-home rapid self test?
Rapid antigen tests are available at all schools and worksites.
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What happens if an employee or student tests positive on the at-home rapid self-test?
If you receive a positive result on an at-home test, please upload a photo of the test result as soon as possible onto the Daily Pass with your full legal name, date of birth, and test date, handwritten on the test or a separate piece of paper next to the test. The OHERS team will review this test and approve or deny it within 24-48 hours. Positive individuals should follow isolation protocols: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/docs/HomeisolationenCoV.pdf
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Is it safe to use a rapid antigen test kit with an expired date?
The use of test kits beyond their expiration date is endorsed by the California Department of Public Health. For more information on the emergency extension of expiration dates, please click here.
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LOS ANGELES UNIFIED'S RESPONSE TESTING PROGRAM
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Can my supervisor ask to see my test results?
No. A test result is personal health information and is protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and an individual does not have to disclose test results.
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Can I talk to someone who speaks Spanish if I have any COVID-19 response testing questions?
Yes, please contact the Help Desk at 213-443-1300 and press 2 for Spanish.
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DAILY PASS
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What is the Daily Pass?
The Daily Pass is an online tool that allows students, parents, employees, and school volunteers to upload test results.
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Helpdesk
For families: (213) 443-1300
For employees: (213) 241-2700
The helpdesk is open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for any questions about Los Angeles Unified and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Student & family wellness:
(213) 241-3840
The helpdesk is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please call for support with mental health, immunizations, health insurance, food & housing, enrollment, and more.