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When Should I Keep My Child Home?

Below is the full list of possible COVID symptoms for which caregivers should monitor their children before sending them to school.

Please STAY HOME and test for COVID (home test or PCR) if your child has the following:

  • Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Muscle aches or body aches

And/Or

  • Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
  • Sore throat when in combination with other symptoms
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms
  • Headache when in combination with other symptoms
  • Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
  • Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms

Other (non-COVID) reasons to stay home:

  • A diagnosis of flu (influenza) with fever. Your child can return to school once they have no fever for 24 hours without the use of tylenol or ibuprofen.
  • A diagnosis of strep throat. Your child should remain at home until they have no fever for 24 hours, and at least 12 hours after starting antibiotics.
  • If your child has vomited during the previous night or in the morning.
  • If your child has diarrhea during the previous night or in the morning.
  • If your child has a moist productive cough, chest congestion or thick nasal drainage.
  • If your child has a red or swollen eye that itches and has a yellow drainage, until your child is under treatment.
  • If your child has live head lice, until they have been treated.
  • Please contact the school nurse if your child has a contagious infection such as COVID-19, strep or flu, head lice, chicken pox, pink-eye, ringworm, impetigo or scabies.

Can My Child Return To School?

  • Is your child positive for COVID-19?
  • Has your child had a fever of 100.0 degrees or more in the past 24 hours?
  • Has your child had acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) in the past 24 hours?

If you answered NO to all 3 questions above, your child can return to school.

If you answered YES to any of these questions above, your child can not return to school. If your child is COVID positive – your child must stay home according to the latest guidelines. Please contact your school nurse directly for guidance on a return to school date.

How Else Can I Keep My Child Healthy?

Vaccinate:

  • Make sure that everybody in your family is up to date with their flu and Covid vaccines. These vaccines are safe and make a difference!

Hand Wash:

  • Practice good hand-washing with soap and water, or use of hand sanitizer
    frequently.

Cough Etiquette:

  • Remind your child to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, or cough and sneeze into their elbows.
  • Masking is no longer required outside the health offices. However, please consider having your child wear a mask in school if they have a cough or other respiratory symptoms.

CDC Guidelines: When to Keep your Child Home From School