Point of Contact Information

Point of Contact for Confirmed Positive Cases of COVID-19

The Forrest City School District has established a Point of Contact (POC), as directed by the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), to be notified when a student or staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 or a member of their household tests positive for COVID-19. The Forrest City School District POC is Dr. Zrano Bowles. Dr. Bowles can be reached 7 days a week between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. by email (zrano.bowles@fcmustangs.net) or phone (870-633-1485 ext. 112).

If a student or staff member tests positive or has a member of their household that tests positive, they should contact the FCSD POC. Visitors to a school building should only report a positive test to the district POC if they were in a building 48 hours prior to receiving a positive COVID-19 test result. No one under quarantine or isolation order due to COVID-19 should visit a school building for any reason.

Please do not call the FCSD POC for anything other than to report a confirmed positive case.

Student and Staff Quarantine Orders

The district will investigate all Probable Close Contacts (PCC) to a person who had a confirmed positive COVID-19 test. Anyone deemed a PCC will be expected to self-quarantine immediately for 14 days from the last date of contact with the positive case and await their Close Contact status to be confirmed by ADH Contact Tracing. Those determined to be a PCC will receive a call from the District POC, a school administrator, or a school nurse.

Students and Staff that are Probable Close Contacts

All PCCs will be contacted by an Arkansas Department of Health Contact Tracer. Contact tracing is a critical tool in the fight against COVID-19. If you get a call from 877-272-6819 or 833-283-2019, be sure and pick up the phone, because you may have been exposed to COVID-19. The contact tracer will confirm close contact status. After students or staff speak with the contract tracer, it may be determined that they are not a probable close contact. If the student or staff member is not determined to be a Close Contact, they will be given documentation allowing them to return to school. If they are determined to be a Close Contact, ADH will set quarantine dates.

Return to School

In order to return to school, students and staff must provide a release from a quarantine or isolation order provided by the Arkansas Department Of Health (ADH). ADH will send the release through email or U.S. Mail. This email or letter must be sent to the school principal of the building the student(s) attend. Staff should send it to their supervisor.

For answers to specific questions please refer to our FAQ page.

COVID-19 Terms and Definitions Identified in the Arkansas Department of Education Response Levels for On-Site Learning Plan

Point of Contact (POC) - A district employee appointed by the Superintendent to be responsible for contacting the School Hotline when a Confirmed Positive is identified within the district. This person will work with other school personnel to identify Probable Close Contacts within the district and share information with and be the liaison between the school district and ADH. This person must be accessible after hours and weekends. Jeff Scott is the POC for the Forrest City School District.

Probable Close Contact - District identified individuals that have likely been within 6 feet for 15 cumulative minutes or longer within a 24-hour period to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, during the infectious period. This person(s) will be expected to self-quarantine immediately for 14 days from the last date of contact with the positive case and await their Close Contact status to be confirmed by ADH Contact Tracing. A quick response to identify and quarantine will slow the possible transmission of the virus. POC will notify probable close contacts initially.

Close Contact - An individual confirmed by ADH Contact Tracing who was within 6 feet for 15 cumulative minutes or longer within a 24-hour period a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 during the infectious period. The Close Contact will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days from the last date of contact with the infected person. It is highly recommended that all close contacts get tested for COVID-19, but individuals must complete the 14 days of quarantine even when the results are negative. They will be in contact with ADH for the duration of the quarantine period.

Secondary Contact - An individual who has had contact with someone identified as a Close Contact to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19. In most instances, these individuals do not require quarantine but are encouraged to monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

Quarantine - Required for someone identified as a Close Contact to a positive case of COVID-19. This person must remain at home and avoid all public activities for 14 days from the last date of contact with the positive case, even if they receive a negative test result. The incubation period in which symptoms of COVID-19 may develop is considered 14 days.

Isolation - Required for someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. This person must attempt to completely separate themselves from others for a minimum of 10 days; however, other criteria may apply when the person is either symptomatic or asymptomatic. The ADH Case Investigator will issue an official ADH letter of release when the individual is ready to return to work or school.

Contact Tracing - the process by which public health officials track the spread of an infectious disease outbreak. When a patient is confirmed to have an illness, they isolate themselves to prevent further spread of that illness. Public health staff helps those who have been infected recall where they have been and with whom they had close contact while they were infectious. Those “contacts” are contacted by public health staff and asked to quarantine themselves to stop further spread of the illness.