Symptoms and Exposure

Remember:

• The best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to avoid exposure to others. Regardless of your COVID-19 vaccine status, if you have symptoms, stay home and get tested.

COVID Test Results

People with COVID-19 symptoms should stay home until they have the results of their testing.

• Negative Results: If you have COVID-like symptoms and receive a negative test result, consider retesting every 24-48 hours through at least 5 days after your symptoms started. You may return to school when you have had no fever within the past 24 hours (without medication) and your symptoms have improved.
• Positive Results: See isolation guidance below and notify the school right away.

Isolation

Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in the home in order to avoid spreading COVID-19 to others. Day 0 is the first day of symptoms. For people without symptoms, day 0 is the day of the positive viral test. See Isolation and Quarantine Calculator for additional information.

You can leave isolation after 5 full days if:

• Your symptoms have improved, AND
• You have had no fever within the past 24 hours (without medication)

When resuming normal activities after the end of the 5-day isolation period (days 6 through 10):

• Wear a mask around others at home and in public
• Avoid people who are immunocompromised, health care settings and other high-risk settings

If a student or staff member is unable to wear a mask, they should continue to isolate for a full 10 days, or follow the test-based strategy as outlined in What to do if you test positive for COVID-19 to determine when to leave isolation and remove their mask.

Exposure

Regardless of vaccination status, students and staff who are potentially exposed to COVID-19 should take the following steps as detailed in the DOH What to do if you have been exposed to COVID-19 flowchart:

• Monitor for symptoms AND
• Test 3-5 days after exposure, AND
• Consider retesting 24-48 hours after your first test, AND 
• For 10 days after your last exposure:
  • Wear a mask when you are around others indoors
  • Do not go places you are unable to wear a mask 
  • Avoid people at high risk for severe disease 
• See DOH What to do if you were potentially exposed to someone with COVID-19 for more information

If the exposed student or staff member develops new symptoms, they should:

• Immediately isolate at home, or where they currently reside, AND
• Get tested for COVID-19

If the exposed individual tests positive, they should follow the DOH What to do if you test positive for COVID-19 guidance.