Can my child go to school if . . .?

Answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

My child has a runny nose/fever/cough/diarrhea/vomited, when can they return to school?

First, please contact your pediatrician to be evaluated.  This season, many children with the above symptoms will be referred for COVID testing: 

  • If the test is NEGATIVE, your child may return to school when they are fever free for 72 hours without fever reducing medications with improvement in their symptoms.
  • If you happen to test positive for an alternate diagnosis such as influenza or strep pharyngitis or bacterial pneumonia, you may return on the timeline documented by your pediatrician. Please bring a note.
  • If the test is POSITIVE, your child may return to school 10 days from the onset of symptoms so long as they have been fever free for 72 hours without fever reducing medicines. 
  • If you are unable to seek medical evaluation during the illness, please keep your child home for 10 days from symptom onset and until fever free for 72 hours without fever reducing medications.
My child has seasonal allergies that involve sneezing and a runny nose. Can my child go to school? When can they return?

If your child has known seasonal allergies or newly identified seasonal allergies, it is not unexpected that they will experience symptoms such as sneezing or runny nose or itchy eyes. Let us know that your child has seasonal allergies.

The first time we see the allergy symptoms (runny nose, cough, etc) we will ask that your child get a Covid-19 test before returning to school before 10 days. We will take note of the new allergy season baseline once they have been confirmed Covid-19 negative.

Please make sure you talk to your pediatrician about the best way to treat your child’s symptoms so that they are able to participate at school. In general, eye rubbing, sneezing, and need for frequent nose wiping increases your child’s exposure to germs; in addition, this year, 

persistent and frequent symptoms may add to overall concern and confusion for others about safety at school.

My child’s babysitter tested positive for Covid-19. Does my child have to quarantine?

If your childcare provider (or anyone else) tests positive for Covid-19 and has been with your child within 48 hours of developing symptoms, your child and any family who had close contact with the person positive for Covid-19 should quarantine for 14 days before returning to school. 

Someone in our family was exposed to a person who tested positive for Covid-19. My child was not exposed to this person. Can my child go to school?

Yes. If one person in your household is placed on quarantine but is asymptomatic, the remaining household members should self-monitor for symptoms, but are not required to quarantine unless their quarantining household member becomes symptomatic. At that time, all household members should begin quarantining until the symptomatic individual has definitive Covid testing results. 

My older child was in class with a peer who was exposed to Covid-19. Now her whole class is quarantined for 2 weeks. Can my preschooler go to school?

Yes. If one person in your household is placed on quarantine but is asymptomatic, the remaining household members should self-monitor for symptoms, but are not required to quarantine unless their quarantining household member becomes symptomatic. At that time, all household members should begin quarantining until the symptomatic individual has definitive Covid testing results. 

My baby has a fever and diarrhea. Can my preschooler go to school if no one else in the family has symptoms and there was no known exposure to Covid-19?.

If a household member has fever or any Covid-like symptoms, the household contacts should quarantine until an alternative diagnosis for the symptomatic individual is made or until a negative Covid test is resulted. 

Someone in our family/household is awaiting Covid-19 test results. Can my child go to school?

No.  If a person in the home is awaiting Covid-19 test results, household contacts should quarantine until results are received.  If the test is NEGATIVE, your child can return to school (assuming your child is asymptomatic).  If the test is positive, household contacts should quarantine for 14 days before returning to school.