• In the K-12 indoor setting, the close contact definition excludes students who were not less than 3 feet of an infected student if universal masking is in place and all students were wearing masks.
  • This exception does not apply to teachers, staff, or other adults in the indoor setting.
• An individual that is fully vaccinated and asymptomatic does not need to quarantine.
• An individual who was previously diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last 90 days of being identified as a close contact does not need to quarantine.

HOW ARE 5 DAYS CALCULATED FOR QUARANTINE OR ISOLATION?

5 Day Quarantine if Identified as a Close Contact:

• Day Zero is the day you were exposed to the person who is COVID positive.

5 Day Isolation if COVID Positive:

• Day Zero is the day you began having symptoms or the day you tested positive if you were asymptomatic.

MY CHILD ONLY HAS A RUNNY NOSE AND SORE THROAT BUT NO FEVER, CAN THEY STILL HAVE COVID-19? 

• Most children with Covid-19 have mild symptoms, with or without a fever - some have no symptoms at all.  

• CDC Covid-19 Symptoms in Children and Teens

WHAT TEST WILL MY CHILD HAVE DONE?

There are different types of Covid-19 tests.  Consult your child’s PCP for guidance.

• The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Viral test is highly accurate for detecting current infection

• The Rapid Antigen test is less reliable than the PCR Viral test 

WHERE SHOULD I TAKE MY CHILD TO GET TESTED?

• Contact your child’s doctor or your insurance provider for information on testing sites or click on the following link to find a site near you: Allegheny County Testing Locator or Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CHILD TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19?

• Isolation is required for 5 days from the start of symptoms (or if asymptomatic - from the date of positive Covid-19 test) 

• Symptoms and fever must be resolved for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine before returning to school

• Contact tracing will be done to determine any individuals that may be ‘Close Contacts’ 

• We ask parents and staff to report all positive results to the school. We are contacted by the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD), however, they may be delayed, therefore, it is critical that parents or staff inform us as soon as possible

WHAT IS ISOLATION?  

• Isolation keeps someone who is infected with the virus away from others, even in their home

  • Stay at home in a specific “sick room” or area and use a separate bathroom (if available)  

  • Do not share personal household items, like cups, towels, or utensils 

  • Keep a face mask in place and physical distance from all other family members and pets when it is necessary to be out of the room

  • Monitor health and seek emergency care immediately for any serious symptoms of illness   

WHO IS CONSIDERED A CLOSE CONTACT? 

• Anyone within 6 feet of someone who is positive for Covid-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more.  

• Exceptions:

• In the K-12 indoor setting, the close contact definition excludes students who were more than 
  • 3 feet of an infected student if universal masking is in place and all students were wearing masks.
  • This exception does not apply to teachers, staff, or other adults in the indoor setting.
• An individual that is fully vaccinated and asymptomatic does not need to quarantine.
• An individual who was previously diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last three months of being identified as a close contact does not need to quarantine.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CHILD IS A CLOSE CONTACT? 

• If your child is a close contact but vaccinated and wearing a mask, they do not need to quarantine.

• If your child is a close contact but had COVID-19 within the last 90 days, they do not need to quarantine.

• If your child is unvaccinated and fewer than 3 feet for 15 consecutive minutes or more of the positive individual, they should quarantine.
• An individual that should quarantine should do so for 5 days.  The quarantine can end after 5 days if no symptoms are present during daily monitoring.
• An individual can end their quarantine after Day 5.

• Asymptomatic siblings and household members of close contacts do not need to quarantine, but we ask parents to monitor their health.

WHAT IS QUARANTINE?

• Quarantine keeps someone who was in close contact with someone who has Covid-19 away from others.  If in quarantine, an individual should:

  • Stay home.  Check your temperature twice a day and watch for symptoms of Covid-19. 

  • If possible, stay away from people who are at higher risk of getting very sick from Covid-19.

HOW ARE 5 DAYS CALCULATED FOR QUARANTINE OR ISOLATION?

5 Day Quarantine if Identified as a Close Contact:

• Day Zero is the day you were exposed to the COVID-positive person.

5 Day Isolation if COVID Positive:

• Day Zero is the day you began having symptoms or the day you tested positive if you were asymptomatic.

DAILY WELLNESS CHECK

• Please continue to monitor your child’s health every day before attending school in person.   If any symptoms of illness are present, please keep your child home.