WAC 246-110-020. Control of contagious disease

(1) When a school or childcare center becomes aware of the presence of a contagious disease at the facility, as defined in WAC 246-110-010 , the officials at the school or childcare center shall notify the appropriate local health officer for guidance. (2) When there is an outbreak of a contagious disease, as defined in WAC 246-110-010 , and there is the potential for a case or cases within a school or childcare center, the local health officer, after consultation with the secretary of health or designee if appropriate, shall take all appropriate actions deemed to be necessary to control or eliminate the spread of the disease within their local health jurisdiction including, but not limited to: (a) Closing part or all of the affected school(s) or childcare center(s); (b) Closing other schools or childcare centers; (c) Canceling activities or functions at schools or childcare centers; (d) Excluding from schools or childcare centers any students, staff, and volunteers who are infectious, or exposed and susceptible to the disease. (3) Prior to taking action the health officer shall: (a) Consult with and discuss the ramifications of action with the superintendent of the school district, or the chief administrator of the childcare center or their designees on the proposed action; and (b) Provide the superintendent of the school district or the chief administrator of the childcare center or their designees a written decision, in the form and substance of an order, directing them to take action. The order must set the terms and conditions permitting; (i) Schools or childcare centers to reopen; (ii) Activities and functions to resume; and (iii) Excluded students, staff and volunteers to be readmitted. (c) Pursue, in consultation with the secretary of health or designee if appropriate, and school or childcare officials, the investigation of the source of disease, or those actions necessary to ultimately control the disease.