Version Date: October 20, 2020

Purpose:    Each of us has a part to play in preventing the spread of COVID-19.  The majority of COVID-19 transmissions occur from people who do not know they are infected, and your School District (the “District”) cares about your risk and exposure to COVID-19. The Nevada Department of Education (the “DOE”), in collaboration with the District, the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (“DHHS”), and Teacher’s Health Trust (“THT”) are implementing a strategy to control the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 as Nevada’s school districts transition to in-person use of school buildings and face-to-face classes.   

The Taskforce Initiative for Educator Safety and Screening (T.I.E.S.) program, which is being administered by THTis a voluntary testing and symptom monitoring program that will provide you with access to tools to help you and your District assess and monitor your risk and potential exposure to COVID-19. 

Program Components:  The T.I.E.S. program includes three primary supports to empower participants and school officials to make informed decisions through testing and daily monitoring.  Key aspects of the program are outlined below.  By participating in this program, you consent to participate in all of these program components:

• Diagnostic Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Testing and Reporting:   T.I.E.S. will provide free initial COVID testing and selected re-testing (as needed and if medically necessary) for enrolled program participants to help prevent the possible introduction and spread of COVID in our schools.  Participants will have access to one initial test, prior to the end of the T.I.E.S. program period, which will be scheduled for a specific date and time as directed by your District. The need for retesting will be determined on an individual basis.
• Symptoms Monitoring:   Program participants will have access to an easy-to-use daily symptom tracking and monitoring tool via the HIPAA-compliant emocha mobile application (or via the emocha web portal) at no charge for the duration of the T.I.E.S. program, provided by emocha Mobile Health Inc. (“emocha”).
• Tracking and Responding:  The T.I.E.S. program will partner with the DOE, DHHS, your District and Nevada’s public health COVID-19 resources to monitor for potential outbreaks. Rapid response to potential outbreaks will help the District and state manage COVID risk and help protect the wellbeing of all teachers, administrators and students.

Eligibility:  The T.I.E.S. program is intended for all adults working in or for eligible Nevada public k-12 schools or charter schools including, but not limited to administrators, teachers, classroom aides, bus drivers, school support staff, and substitute teachers.  In order to complete a symptom check questionnaire through the emocha application, you will need to create login credentials using your name and email address. You agree to create only one login account and to provide accurate, truthful, current and complete information when creating your login account. You also acknowledge that your login is personal to you and agree not to provide any other person with access to emocha or portions of it using your username, password, or other security information.  You also agree to review and agree to the emocha application’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy in order to use the app.  You may review these policies by clicking on the following links:

emocha Privacy Policy for Employers: https://emocha.com/privacy-policy-for-employers/ 

emocha Terms of Use for Employers: https://emocha.com/terms-of-use-for-employers/

In order to provide access to COVID-19 testing across the state, the T.I.E.S. program is working with multiple approved clinical laboratories.  In order to receive a free and voluntary test, you will need to fill out a laboratory provider registration form and sign a form consent for specifically for testing at or near the time of the testing. 

Testing:   The test that you will receive is designed to detect if you have SARS-CoV-2, also known as the “coronavirus,” the virus that causes a disease known as COVID-19.  The results of this test will not tell you if you had the virus in the past or if you have immunity to getting the virus in the future. It only tests for the presence of the virus in your specimen (biological matter collected through a process that involves swabbing your nose) at the time of administration of the test. 

The results of your SARS-CoV-2 test will be shared with you through a web portal, a mobile software application and/or a text or phone call, and with the T.I.E.S. program through a web portal or a software file.  

If your test results are positive, please contact a physician immediately. Only a doctor or advanced practice professional can diagnose you with COVID-19 and give you information about what you should do next.    If you test positive but do not have symptoms, you may still be required to remain in isolation for up to 14 days and exhibit no symptoms. 

It is possible for the test to produce an incorrect negative result (called a “false negative”) in some people who have SARS-CoV-2.  If you test negative but have symptoms of COVID-19 or concerns about exposure to SARS-CoV-2, contact a physician to determine if you should be retested or take other action.  

If your test result is negative, you should continue to practice physical distancing, wear a mask, frequently wash your hands, and follow any applicable federal, state or local orders and guidelines related to COVID-19.

Consent to Share Testing Data. By participating in the T.I.E.S. program and checking the box below, you consent to your results being shared with THT, administrators of the T.I.E.S. program, and with emocha.  Your results will also be shared with the health care provider who ordered your test and with your District.  The results of your test may also be shared with DHHS and DOE, and certain federal, state or local government agencies as permitted or required by law.  If you test positive, a public health official will conduct a contact tracing outreach and ask about your close contacts.   

Daily Symptom Monitoring:  Regardless of your SARS-CoV-19 testing schedule and how recently you took a test, T.I.E.S. program participants will be asked to conduct a daily symptom check by answering a short set of health and wellness related questions via the emocha application.  You acknowledge that this information is self-reported and will be accurate to the best of your knowledge at the time of response. 

Sharing Daily Symptom Data. Some data and information from the daily symptom check will be shared with your employer and state agencies in order to meet requirements of this program. When appropriate, for reporting purposes your data will be summarized, de-identified (this means that your name and any information that personally identifies you will not be connected to the data), and combined in aggregate with other employees to report on trends.   

Communications:  By enrolling in the T.I.E.S. program, you consent to phone calls and email communications and other electronic communications, such as texts, from THT, emocha, DHHS and its designees, and our testing administration partners regarding further health screening, information concerning or related to the daily symptom monitoring application, your lab test results, and general health information.  You may also elect to participate in two-way chat or helpline communications via the emocha application. 

Your Health:   The T.I.E.S. program and the emocha application do not provide, and are not a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  emocha is being provided for your personal use and general informational purposes only. In emergency or urgent situations, you should not use the application, but instead should dial 911, contact your medical provider directly, or go to the nearest emergency room. NEVER USE THE APPLICATION FOR URGENT OR EMERGENCY MATTERS.