Regardless of vaccination status, if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 they must isolate for a full five days. Students/staff may return to school after day five if they are asymptomatic or if symptoms are resolving (no fever, runny nose, or coughing). The isolation timeline looks like this:

• Day 0: Symptom onset or date of test that resulted in a positive.

• Day 1 through Day 5: Stay home

• Day 6: Return to school if asymptomatic, or if symptoms are resolving.

• Day 6 - 10: Required to wear a mask at all times, including in school and on the school bus. If the family does not want their child to wear a mask for days 6-10, then the child will need to remain out of school until day 11.

If a student/staff member tests positive for COVID-19 and took an Over-the-Counter (i.e., at-home, take-home) antigen test, the test should be reported to the local department of health and to their school nurse (staff will also report to their supervisor). To report a positive test result to:

• Albany County, please use this link: New Submission (albanycounty.com)

• Greene County, please use this link: New Submission (greenegovernment.com)

In order for students/staff members who have tested positive and have had symptoms to return to school after five days, they must:

• Be fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.

• Have not lost their sense of taste or smell.

• Have no runny nose.

• Have no more than an infrequent, nonproductive cough that is not getting worse. Those with a cough must be able to tolerate continuous mask use as breaks are not allowed.

• Have not experienced excessive or unusual fatigue.

• Have no persistent headache or muscle aches.

• Have no nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting for at least 24 hours.

State guidance states that all individuals are required to wear a well-fitting mask around others (e.g., at home, on buses, in school, and in public) for a full 10 days following the first day of symptoms (or the date of a positive test, if the student is asymptomatic), regardless of vaccination status. If families do not want their students to wear a mask for days 6-10 at school, they can stay home from school until day 11.

Anyone who is moderately or severely immunocompromised should follow the standard 10-day isolation guidance issued previously.

Regardless of whether or not there is a known exposure to COVID-19, it is very important that students and staff who are sick do not attend school.