Q When can a person who has tested positive return to school? Is it the same process for students, faculty and staff?
A. Any individual who tests positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status or symptoms, must be excluded and isolate for a minimum of 10 days and until they receive a release from isolation communication from WCDOH. WCDOH monitors COVID-19 positive individuals, and will determine when they meet criteria for release from isolation, and issue such a release.
Q. Must individuals with symptoms compatible with COVID-19 be sent home or excluded? When can such individuals return to school?
A. As per the NYSDOH 2021-22 Interim PreK-12 (9-2-21 ) guidance and NYS Health Commissioner Determination on Testing or Vaccination, all students, teachers, and staff with new or worsening symptoms compatible with COVID19 must be sent home and excluded from school, regardless of vaccination status, until the following criteria are met:
• Documentation of a negative COVID-19 PCR or NAAT test result
OR
• Medical provider documentation of a pre-existing chronic condition with no change in symptoms or an alternate acute illness diagnosis e.g. lab confirmed strep throat, flu AND that COVID-19 is not suspected
• All must meet the preceding criteria AND be fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications and have improving symptoms
Anyone not meeting the above criteria must remain excluded for a minimum of 10 days following the date of first symptoms.
