When can your student return to school?

  •  If your student was absent due to an illness, please carefully review the following to learn when your student can return to school. In addition, this handout from the DOH provides a helpful visual. 

    Are they experiencing any of the following? 

    COVID-19 Class A Symptoms

     
    • Fever (The CDC considers a person to have a fever when he or she has a measured temperature of 100.4° F or greater, or feels warm to the touch, or gives a history of feeling feverish
    • Chills
    • Cough
    • Muscle or body aches
    • Loss of sense or taste and/or smell
    • Shortness of breath
    		  

    COVID-19 Class B Symptoms
    • Fatigue
    • Headache
    • Sore throat
    • Congestion or runny nose
    • Nausea or vomiting
    • Diarrhea (at least 2 loose stools in 24 hours)

    Scenario 1:

    If your child has:

    • Any Class A symptom of any duration, or
    • 2 or more Class B symptoms of any duration, or
    • 1 or more Class B symptom lasting more than 24 hours

    Then they need to isolate* until at least:

    • 10 days since symptom onset AND
    • 24 hours after fever resolves without use of fever-reducing medication AND
    • Symptoms have improved
      The three conditions must be met. 

    If they receive a negative COVID-19 test, they must isolate* until at least:

    • 24 hours after fever resolves without use of fever-reducing medication AND
    • Symptoms have improved 

    The two conditions must be met. 

    Please access testing through the following places:

    • BISD Testing Site
    • A health care provider
    • A pharmacy’s testing center 
    • Department of Health testing center 

    Scenario 2:

    If your child has:

    • 1 or more Class B symptom lasting less than 24 hours

    Then they must isolate* until at least:

    • Symptoms have improved 


    You are encouraged to have your student tested for COVID-19 at the BISD Testing site.     Click here for details. 

    If your student tests positive for COVID-19 they must isolate* and can return to school after:

    • Five days have passed since symptom onset, or since positive test specimen collection date if no symptoms are present. NOTE: People who are severely ill or severely immunocompromised may need to isolate for up to 20 days; AND
    • No symptoms are present, or symptoms are resolving; AND
    • No fever within the past 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications; AND 
    • Receive a negative COVID test on or after day five of their isolation. If they test positive, they must continue to isolate through day 10.

    If you have any questions regarding how long to keep your student home from school, please contact their school nurse. 

    *The Department of Health defines isolation as what you do if you have COVID-19 symptoms, or have tested positive for COVID-19. Isolation means you stay home and away from others (including household members) for the recommended period of time to avoid spreading illness.

    If your student is not experiencing a COVID-19 Class A or B symptom and was absent for strep throat, pink eye or an ear infection, they can return to school after taking an antibiotic for at least 24 hours. 

    If you have any questions regarding how long to keep your student home from school, please contact their school nurse.