(Please note that as current information becomes available this page will be updated – 08.25.2021.)
Schools will make efforts to monitor the health of their students and staff, although it is not required or suggested by the CDC. Specifically, they suggest schools and Child Care programs are not expected to screen children, students, or staff to identify cases of COVID-19. If a community, or specifically school, has cases of COVID-19, local health officials will help identify those individuals and follow up on next steps.
Below is some specific guidance related to situations involving the school, community and COVID-19.
If a staff member or volunteer has a confirmed case of COVID-19
If a student has a confirmed case of COVID-19
If a student or staff has a suspected case of COVID-19 or is demonstrating symptoms.
Situation | Unvaccinated Student Not Wearing a Mask |
Unvaccinated Student Wearing a Mask |
Vaccinated Student |
Wearing Masks | Required to have a signed waiver | Will need to wear a mask | Mask optional |
Close Contact with a COVID Case | Will need to follow quarantine procedures | Will not need to quarantine | Will not need to quarantine |
Test Positive for COVID | Quarantine for 10 days | Quarantine for 10 days | Quarantine for 10 days |
Defined Quarantine Procedures
A child that is required to follow quarantine procedures will need to quarantine for a minimum of five (5) days. After five days, the child can:
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Specific Situations
If a student, teacher or staff member has been vaccinated then comes in close contact with COVID (indoors or outdoors), do they have to quarantine? If so, how long? Do they need to get a COVID negative test result to return to school? If so, when should they get the COVID test?
The current recommendation, per the CDC and HAN 583, is if a fully vaccinated person is exposed to someone with COVID-19 they do not need to quarantine. However, they should:
If someone if fully vaccinated and develops COVID-like symptoms, they should isolate and be tested for COVID. However, keep in mind that the CDC has provided an exclusion to the close contact definition for students who were within 3 to 6 feet of an infected student where:
This exception does not apply to teachers, staff or other adults in the indoor classroom setting.
Outdoor classes and sport. Do students have to wear a mask regardless of their vaccination status?
Mask use is strongly recommended indoors for all individuals, regardless of their vaccination status in the K-12 setting.
When a child wearing a mask, but is not vaccinated, comes in close contact with COVID-19 do they need to quarantine?
At this time, the CDC says “No”. As long as the students are social distancing and wearing masks they will not have to quarantine if the come into close contact with someone that has COVID. They would have to get a test, but that is it unless they start to show signs of being sick. Then they would have to quarantine. Adults would still have to quarantine.