COVID-19 Symptom Guidelines

EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS

WITHOUT A KNOWN EXPOSURE

The following are guidelines for a student or staff member who is experiencing symptoms.

• If you are experiencing symptoms, you are encouraged to seek COVID testing. For testing, contact your physician.
• If you receive a positive test result: stay home for at least 10 days*. You must also be fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medication for 24 hours and see improvement in other symptoms.
• If you receive a negative test result: you may return once you have been fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medication and symptom-free for 24 hours.
• If COVID-19 symptoms are present but you are not tested, you must stay home/isolate for 10 days*.
• A doctor’s note is required for staff to return to work after COVID symptoms, whether they are positive or negative. This includes child illnesses.
   

EXPOSED TO POSITIVE COVID-19

WITH A KNOWN EXPOSURE

The following are guidelines for a student or staff member who has been exposed to someone with a positive COVID-19 test.

• If you have come into contact with someone who has tested positive, you should quarantine for 14 days* starting from the date of your last contact with the person who tested positive for COVID-19.
• If someone in your home tests positive, you should quarantine while they are sick and continue to quarantine for an additional 14 days* after they are no longer infectious.
• If you are experiencing symptoms, you are encouraged to seek COVID testing. For testing, contact your physician.
• A doctor’s note is required for staff to return to work after COVID symptoms, whether they are positive or negative. This includes child illnesses.
   

SYMPTOMS AT SCHOOL

The following are guidelines for a student or staff member who is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 while at school.

Student:

• Student reports symptoms to staff member or staff member observes symptoms.
• Student will be sent to health isolation room.
• Parent/guardian will be notified and should arrive to pick up student as soon as possible.
• Student will need to stay home to wait for test results or until they are symptom-free for 10 days* (if not tested).

Staff:

• Staff member will inform supervisor.
• Staff member will need to stay home to wait for test results or until they are symptom-free for 10 days* (if not tested).
• A doctor’s note is required for staff to return to work after COVID symptoms, whether they are positive or negative. This includes child illnesses.

COVID SCREENING QUESTIONS

The following questions should be answered each day before students get on the bus or are dropped off at school:

1. Has the student been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19?
2. Has the student been experiencing a cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or a sore throat?
3. Has the student had a fever over 100 degrees in the last 24 hours?
4. Has the student had a new loss of taste or smell?
5. Has the student had muscle pains or chills?
6. Has the student experienced nausea or vomiting in the past 24 hours?

If the answer to any of these is yes, the student should not be sent to school. Parents should contact their physician to see if they would recommend COVID testing.

*depending on guidance from Dodge County Health Department