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

• Negative Results: If your student has COVID-like symptoms and receives a negative test result, they may return to school 24 hours after fever has resolved (without medication) and symptoms have significantly improved. If symptoms persist, retest every 24-48 hours through at least five days after symptoms started.
• Not Tested: Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms that do not get tested or do not see a health care provider to receive an alternative diagnosis should follow the same isolation guidance described below as individuals who test positive for COVID-19.
• Positive Results: See isolation guidance below and please report here.

Students or staff who test positive for COVID-19 are required to isolate at home for 5 days, regardless of vaccination status. 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.

The individual may return to school after 5 full days of isolation if: 

• Their symptoms have improved, or they are asymptomatic, AND 
• They are without a fever for the past 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications. 

Individuals should continue to wear a well-fitting mask for an additional 5 days (day 6 through day 10) if they return to school after the end of their 5-day isolation period. If an individual is unable to wear a well-fitting mask, they should continue to isolate for a full 10 days.

Students and staff are encouraged to test before returning. Individuals who test positive using antigen or at-home tests towards the end of the full 5 days of isolation, and/or on days 6-10, are required to complete the 10 full days of isolation. Testing after day 10 is not recommended.

To protect their school community, students and staff, regardless of vaccination status, who are potentially exposed to COVID-19 should:

• Monitor for symptoms, AND
• Test* as soon as possible after exposure and then repeat testing every 24-48 hours through at least the first 5 days after exposure AND
• Students and staff who spend time indoors with individuals at risk for getting very sick with COVID-19 should wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days after exposure. Follow the WA DOH COVID-19 Symptom and Exposure Flowchart for Schools.

Exposed, formally referred to as Close Contact, students and staff may continue to take part in all in-person instruction and care, including sports, performing arts, and other extracurricular activities, as long as they do not have symptoms or test positive. If an exposed student or staff member develop symptoms, they should test and are required to immediately isolate at home and follow the COVID-like symptom guidance outlined above.

*Individuals who have been recently infected (within the past 90 days), should use an antigen test, as PCR results may remain persistently positive even if there is not a new, active infection.

There are other medical conditions besides COVID-19 which may require your student to stay home from school. If your student has any of the following symptoms, please keep them home and contact their school.

• Appearance, behavior – unusually tired, pale, lack of appetite, difficult to wake, confused or irritable
• Eyes – white or yellow drainage, vision change, and/or redness of the eyelid or skin around the eye, itchiness, pain, or sensitivity to light.  This may be a sign of “pink eye” (conjunctivitis) which needs a medical evaluation. Following a diagnosis of conjunctivitis, the student may return to school 24 hours after receiving the first dose of prescribed medication. Students can remain in school if there is only minimal redness to the white of the eye and no other signs.
• Fever – temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Student needs to be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol or Motrin before returning to school. Giving a fever reducing medication just before returning to school does not make a student well. It may only mask the fever until the medication wears off. In this situation, a student needs to be home, so others are not exposed to illness.
• Ear pain with fever – untreated ear infections may cause permanent hearing loss. Consult with the student’s health care provider.
• Persistent nasal drainage and/or chronic cough – may need to be seen by a health care provider. A student with thick or constant nasal discharge should remain home. Very few younger children can effectively blow their noses and wash their hands afterward. A child with the above symptoms will quickly spread the illness to other children.
• Sore throat – especially with fever or swollen glands in the neck. A student with a confirmed diagnosis of strep throat may return to school after 24 hours of appropriate antibiotic treatment. They must also be fever free for the past 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medications.
• Diarrhea –more than one watery stool in a 24-hour period, especially if the student acts or looks ill. A student with diarrhea should stay home and return to school only after being symptom free for 24 hours.
• Vomiting – A student with vomiting should not return to school for 24 hours following the last episode of vomiting.  
• Rash – body rash, especially with fever or itching. Common infectious diseases with rashes are most contagious in the early stages. A child with a suspicious rash should return to school only after a health care provider has made a diagnosis and authorized the student's return to school. Exceptions are rashes due to heat, diapers, and allergic reactions which are not spread to others.
• Scabies – Students with scabies may return to school 24 hours after beginning treatment.
• Chickenpox –Students are infectious 1 – 2 days before the rash appears and until the blisters (sores) are dry and crusted. This is usually 5‐6 days after the rash appears.  Students need to stay home until all lesions have crusted over and there are no new lesions in 24 hours.  If your child has chicken pox, alert the school nurse.

Contact your medical provider if your student is experiencing any other symptoms that are concerning to you.

A sick student cannot learn effectively and is unable to participate in classes in a meaningful way. Keeping a sick student home and encouraging frequent handwashing allows the student the opportunity to rest and recover and prevents the spread of illness in the school community.