• Returning To School After a COVID-19 Diagnosis or Other Illness

     

    To minimize the spread of COVID-19, we follow prevention strategies from the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This summer, NCDHHS phased out the StrongSchools NC Public Health Toolkit.

  • COVID-19 Symptoms:

    • Fever or chills
    • Cough
    • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
    • Fatigue
    • Muscle or body aches
    • Headache
    • New loss of taste or smell
    • Sore throat
    • Congestion or runny nose
    • Nausea or vomiting
    • Diarrhea

     

    Scenario

    Recommended Action

    COVID-19 Symptoms

    You may have COVID-19, but tested before the virus was detectable, or you may have another illness, such as the flu.

     

    If you have symptoms, it is recommended that you stay home, go home from school or work and it is recommended to test for COVID-19.

    Alternate Diagnosis

    • It is recommended to be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and have an improvement in symptoms before returning to school or work.
    • It is recommended to provide an alternate diagnosis from a healthcare provider to your principal or supervisor.
    • Students may have a medical plan of care prepared by a school nurse.
    • No mask is needed when returning to school or work.

     

    Negative COVID-19 Test

    • It is recommended to be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and have an improvement in symptoms before returning to school or work.
    • It is recommended to wear a mask for 10 full days from onset of symptoms (unless mask accommodations apply).

     

    No COVID-19 Test

    • Stay home for 5 days (from the onset of symptoms).
    • It is recommended to be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and have an improvement in symptoms before returning to school or work.
    • It is recommended to wear a mask 5 full days when returning to school or work (unless mask accommodations apply).

    Positive COVID-19 test and has symptoms
    • Stay home for 5 days (from the onset of symptoms or positive test).
    • It is recommended to be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and have an improvement in symptoms before returning to school or work.
    • It is recommended to wear a mask for 5 full days when returning to school or work (unless mask accommodations apply).
      • The CDC recommends that after 5 days of isolation, you can remove the mask if you have 2 negative tests at least 48 hours apart.

    Positive COVID-19 test and has no symptoms
    • Stay home for 5 days (from the positive test).
    • It is recommended to wear a mask for 5 full days when returning to school or work (unless mask accommodations apply).
      • The CDC recommends that after 5 days of isolation, you can remove the mask if you have 2 negative tests at least 48 hours apart.