-
Students and staff must stay home if they are sick.
Someone experiencing any symptom of illness not related to an already documented medical condition must be sent home, even if they don’t have a COVID-19 diagnosis.
Household members must also stay home.
We require that students and employees quarantine for 24 days if someone in their household (either a WCPSS student or employee) doesn’t pass a health screening, experiences a symptom of illness, or is diagnosed with COVID-19. They may return sooner only if:
The person who didn’t pass a health screening or experienced a symptom of illness receives an diagnosis of something other than COVID-19 from a medical professional
The person who didn’t pass a health screening or experienced a symptom of illness receives a negative PCR/Molecular test.
If the student or employee is diagnosed with COVID-19 during their quarantine, they may return after isolating for 10 days, as long as they have been fever free without medication for 24 hours and an improvement of symptoms.
The 24-day quarantine period is a combination of waiting ten days for the person who is sick to complete their isolation period, plus a 14-day quarantine period for the household member.
It is the student/family’s responsibility to keep up with school work.
The student or family should notify the student’s teacher or teachers when the student is absent. Once notified, it is the teacher’s responsibility to ensure that the student is given assignments to work on while out sick. As students reach higher grade levels, they will begin taking on more responsibility for ensuring they receive assignments when they are absent.
If the student is too sick to complete assignments, they should prioritize health and well-being. In this situation, the student or family will make arrangements with the teacher to make up the work at an appropriate time.
For employees
Employees should access the Work and Leave Guidance page on the Return to the Workplace site on WakeConnect to learn more about leave and telework options during COVID-19 related absences.
If you are experiencing a symptom of illness...
-
NO MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS OR COVID-19 TEST?
They may return if:
It has been at least 10 days since they first had symptoms
AND
It has been at least 24 hours since they had a fever (without the use of fever reducing medicine)
AND
Symptoms have improved, including cough and shortness of breath
-
ALTERNATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS?
They may return if:
They have a confirmed diagnosis other than COVID-19 (like a stomach virus, ear infection, etc.) from a healthcare professional to explain the COVID-19-like symptoms
AND
It has been at least 24 hours since they had a fever (without the use of fever reducing medicine)
AND
They have felt well for 24 hours
-
NEGATIVE COVID-19 TEST?
They may return if:
They have a negative PCR/Molecular* COVID-19 test
AND
It has been at least 24 hours since they had a fever (without the use of fever reducing medicine)
AND
They have felt well for 24 hours
NOTE: If they have a negative rapid antigen** test, they must receive a follow-up negative PCR/Molecular test.
If you are not experiencing a symptom of illness...
-
EXPOSED TO SOMEONE WITH COVID-19 WITHIN THE LAST 2 WEEKS?
They may return if:
It has been 14 days since the last date of exposure. They may not return any sooner, even if they test negative for COVID-19.
CDC considers someone exposed if they were within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection.
NOTE: If they test positive for COVID-19, they must remain home until they meet the criteria requirements for someone diagnosed with COVID-19.
-
DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19 WITHIN THE LAST 10 DAYS?
They may return if:
It has been 10 days since the date of their first positive COVID-19 diagnostic test, if they have not developed any symptoms of COVID-19.
NOTE: If they develop symptoms of COVID-19, they must remain home until they meet the criteria requirements for someone experiencing a symptom.
