COVID-19 K-12 SCHOOLS GUIDANCE

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Fairfield County
K-12 Schools COVID-19
Frequently Asked Questions

My child tested positive for COVID-19, do they have to isolate?


Yes. If your child has a positive test they should Isolate.

Self-isolation includes the following:

  • Self-isolate for at least 10 days after symptoms first appear AND
  • At least 24 hours have passed since last fever (without the use of fever reducing medication) AND
  • Symptoms have improved

 

My child doesn

’

t have symptoms but has a positive test, do they have to isolate?


Yes. Cases who never developed symptoms may discontinue self-isolation 10 days after the date of the positive test.

 

My child tested positive, does everyone in the house have to quarantine?


Yes. There are two options for quarantine:

  • If your child can truly isolate from all others in the household then the isolation of the positive child and the quarantine for the other household members can be completed at the same time.
  • If you have to continue having close contact with the positive child, then your quarantine would begin on the day AFTER the positive child’s isolation had finished.

 

My child is vaccinated and tested positive for COVID-19, do they still have to isolate?


Yes. Regardless of vaccination status anyone that tests positive for COVID-19 needs to isolate for 10 days AND at least 24 hours have passed since last fever AND symptoms have improved.

 

My child was NOT wearing a mask and was exposed to someone with COVID-19, do they have to quarantine?

Yes. They will need to quarantine for 10 days OR they need to quarantine for 7 days and have a negative COVID-19 result on a test taken on or after day 5. 

 

My child WAS wearing a mask and was exposed to someone with COVID-19, do they have to quarantine?

If they maintained 3 feet of social distancing from the positive person, they would NOT have to quarantine. Your child should continue wearing a mask for 14 days and monitor for symptoms OR continue wearing a mask for 7 days and have a negative COVID-19 result on a test taken on or after day 5.

 

If your child could not maintain 3 feet of social distance, then they should quarantine for 10 days OR they need to quarantine for 7 days and have a negative COVID-19 result on a test taken on or after day 5. 

 

My child IS vaccinated and was exposed to someone with COVID-19, do they have to quarantine?

If they maintained 3 feet of social distancing from the positive person, they would NOT have to quarantine. Your child should wear a mask for 14 days and monitor for symptoms OR continue wearing a mask for 7 days and have a negative COVID-19 result on a test taken on or after day 5.

 

If your child could not maintain 3 feet of social distance, then they should quarantine for 10 days OR they need to quarantine for 7 days and have a negative COVID-19 result on a test taken on or after day 5. 

 

What is the difference between isolation and quarantine?


  • Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.
  • Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.

 

I tested positive for COVID-19 but my child doesn

’

t have symptoms, do they have to quarantine?


Yes. They will need to quarantine for 10 days OR they need to quarantine for 7 days and have a negative COVID-19 result on a test taken on or after day 5. Unless your child has not been within 6 feet of you for 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour period since two days before your symptoms began.

 

If my school mandates masks, does my child have to wear a mask?


Schools, not local health departments, have the authority to set policies as they relate to masking, social distancing, etc. in accordance with state guidance and local health department recommendations. Those policy decisions will impact the number of students who potentially will be subject to an exclusion notice, isolation, or quarantine order. Fairfield Department of Health recommends all schools adopt either the Ohio Department of Health or CDC’s recommendations for masking policies to slow the spread of the virus and keep more students in the classroom. Just like your child should follow other school policies, they should also follow any added policies.

 

My child isn

’

t sick, why do they have to quarantine?


Quarantine – or separating oneself from others – is recommended for people who have been close to a person with COVID-19 (an exposure). Since people infected with COVID-19 may have no symptoms or can be contagious before symptoms start quarantine is an important way to keep COVID-19 from spreading.

 

Does my child need a letter to return to school?


If your school requires a letter that releases your child back to school, please contact the Fairfield Department of Health for questions 740-652-2800.

 

How will I be notified of a POSITIVE COVID case within my child

’

s school?


Your school should send out a notification letter for the entire building, informing parents, teachers, and staff of a positive COVID case.
> K-12 reporting

 

One of my children has been told to quarantine, do all my kids have to stay home?


No. Only the child directly in contact with the positive person must quarantine. Encourage social distancing from the exposed child in the home, wipe down surfaces frequently, and monitor for symptoms.

 

My child is having symptoms, should they stay home?


Yes. Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 (whether or not they have had close contact with someone with COVID-19) should stay home and away from others until a negative test is received.

 

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