- What should a student or staff member do during quarantine?
- Can a student or staff member continue to go to school while in quarantine?
- How should “Test to Stay” be implemented in light of the updated shortened quarantine and isolation timeframe?
- What activities can a student or staff member participate in while in quarantine?
What should a student or staff member do during quarantine?
People who are asked to quarantine should take the following steps:
- Stay home and away from other people for at least 5 days (day 0 through day 5) after their last close contact with a person who has COVID-19. The date of exposure is considered day 0. Wear a well-fitting mask when around others at home, if possible.
- For 10 days after their last close contact to someone with COVID-19, watch for fever (100.4◦F or greater), cough, shortness of breath, or other COVID-19 symptoms.
- If they develop symptoms, get tested immediately and isolate until they receive their test results. If they test positive, follow isolation recommendations.
- If they do not develop symptoms, get tested at least 5 days after they last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
- If they test negative, they can leave home, but continue to wear a well-fitting mask when around others at home and in public until 10 days after their last close contact with someone with COVID-19.
- If they test positive, they should isolate for at least 5 days from the date of their positive test (if they do not have symptoms). If they do develop COVID-19 symptoms, isolate for at least 5 days from the date their symptoms began (the date the symptoms started is day 0). Follow recommendations in the isolation section.
- If they are unable to get a test 5 days after their last close contact with someone with COVID-19, they can leave their home after day 5 if they have been without COVID-19 symptoms throughout the 5-day period. Wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days after the date of last close contact when around others at home and in public.
- Avoid people who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease, and nursing homes and other high-risk settings, until after at least 10 days.
- If possible, stay away from people they live with, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19, as well as others outside their home throughout the full 10 days after their last close contact with someone with COVID-19.
- If they are unable to quarantine, they should wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days when around others at home and in public.
- If they are unable to wear a mask when around others, they should continue to quarantine for 10 days.
- Avoid people who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease, and nursing homes and other high-risk settings, until after at least 10 days.
Please visit CDC’s COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation page for general guidance on quarantine.
See more: Covid 19 if you have symptoms
Can a student or staff member continue to go to school while in quarantine?
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No. CDC recommends students and staff who are asked to quarantine should not go to school or school events in-person during their quarantine period unless they are participating in a school sponsored “Test to Stay” program.
How should “Test to Stay” be implemented in light of the updated shortened quarantine and isolation timeframe?
Test to Stay (TTS) can be implemented by schools as an alternative to traditional quarantine at home by establishing testing protocols to perform at least two tests during the period between close contact notification/TTS enrollment and day 7 after exposure, with the last test occurring 5-7 days after last close contact with a person confirmed with COVID-19. For more information about TTS, visit What You Should Know About COVID-19 Testing in Schools.
What activities can a student or staff member participate in while in quarantine?
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A student or staff member should participate in only online or virtual school activities during their quarantine period. They may complete work or assignments from home during this time, depending on how well they feel. They can engage with other students, teachers, or staff through phone conversations, online meetings, or fully virtual engagement.
It is important for a student or staff member in quarantine to remain at home, separated from other people as much as possible, during the entire quarantine period. They should not attend other extra-curricular or social activities while they are in quarantine. They should not participate in activities like sporting events, play dates, parties, social and family gatherings, music or theater performances, and other events where they may come into contact with other people. To prevent other people from possibly getting COVID-19, make every effort to limit the person’s contact with other people, including members of their household, while they are in quarantine, even if the person is wearing a mask.