Under NYS Department of Health’s requirements released September 30, 2020, if a student or staff member has any COVID-19 symptoms, they have 48 hours to see a doctor and either receive a negative COVID-19 test result or get diagnosed with something other than COVID-19. If they cannot or refuse to see a doctor, school and health department officials may presume that the person is positive.
A “presumed positive” means that the person must stay home from school/work and isolate for 10 days, AND the case may trigger the school and Warren County Public Health to start the contact tracing process, potentially quarantining at home additional students and staff who may have had contact with the person who is presumed positive.
GFSD Return-to-School Protocols
Please note: All information is subject to change based on updated guidance from the NYS Department of Health and/or CDC.
Everyone who enters our school buildings is required to screen for possible COVID-like symptoms. Parents are required to notify the school nurse if their child is not feeling well and keep their child home from school. Parents should complete the health questionnaire for their children weekly.
If a student shows symptoms of COVID, the following procedures will be enforced in order to allow for the return to school:
If the healthcare provider confirms an alternate diagnosis (i.e. strep throat, flu) or a pre-existing condition (i.e. allergies, migraines):
- Obtain a written diagnosis (preferably 48 hrs) from the healthcare provider of a known chronic condition with unchanged symptoms, or a confirmed acute illness (ex: laboratory-confirmed influenza, strep throat, etc.).
- The healthcare provider must indicate that COVID is not suspected.
- The note from the healthcare provider must detail the alternate diagnosis or pre-existing condition, along with all related symptoms, as well as a release to return to school. Nonspecific viral diagnoses such as viral upper respiratory infection, bronchitis, common cold, stomach bug, flu-like illness, or viral gastroenteritis will require a COVID test.
- If your provider determines that a COVID test is necessary, your child must stay home until you receive your test results. Please discuss with your physician how you will get your results. Please provide provider permission to the school. Follow the directions below based on your test results.
- If your child is prescribed an antibiotic, please ensure they have taken the medication for at least 24 hours prior to returning to school.
If your child has been evaluated by a healthcare provider and receives a negative COVID test result:
- Obtain medical documentation by a healthcare provider, clearing the child to return to school
- Provide results of a negative COVID diagnostic test (copy of lab results or physician documentation). This can be a negative rapid test if available. Please provide results to the school.
- Ensure that all symptoms are improving
- Ensure that the child is fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication
- Ensure that there is no vomiting or diarrhea for at least the previous 24 hours
If the test results are not available within 48 hours, per New York State Department of Health, GFSD is required to report this to the Warren County Public Health (WCPH) as a “presumed positive” case.
If your child has been evaluated by a healthcare provider and receives a positive COVID test result:
- Obtain a physician’s note and written release from isolation from NYSDOH as required stating that child is able to return to school
- Ensure that at least 10 days have passed since date of positive test or first symptoms have appeared
- Ensure that the child has been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication
- Ensure that it has been at least 3 days since date symptoms have improved, including cough and shortness of breath
- Ensure that there has been no vomiting or diarrhea for at least the previous 24 hours
If the test results are not available within 48 hours, per New York State Department of Health, GFSD is required to report to the Warren County Public Health (WCPH) as a “presumed positive” case.
If you choose NOT to have your child evaluated by a healthcare provider…
- Your child must remain out of school for 10 calendar days after the first symptom(s) is identified.
- GFSD is required to report this information to public health and WCPH would determine the next steps, including whether or not any siblings can return to school.
- At the end of the 10 days:
- ensure that all symptoms are improving.
- ensure that your child has been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.
Notification
The Superintendent and/or school nurse will receive notification from Warren County Public Health regarding any positive test results that relate to a student. The Superintendent must be informed of all positive cases in the district (students or staff) by the Department of Health, the employee, or the school nurse.