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639 Operating Schools During COVID-19: CDC Guidelines
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639 Operating Schools During COVID-19: CDC Guidelines

What to do if a Student Becomes Sick at School or Reports a New COVID-19 Diagnosis

Use the following steps if a student displays signs or reports feelings of being sick at school. You can also download and print a flowchart showing these steps.

  1. Student(s) displays signs of infectious illness consistent with COVID-19.
  2. The teacher or staff excuses student(s) from the classroom, cohort/pod, or area within the school and notifies COVID-19 designated Point of Contact (POC).
  3. COVID-19 POC takes student(s) to designated isolation room/area until transportation can be arranged to send student(s) home or seek emergency medical attention. Note: If multiple ill students must be placed in the same isolation room/area, ensure mask use and that they maintain at least 6 feet of distance between them.
  4. COVID-19 POC notify parent(s), guardians, or caregiver(s) of ill student(s).
  5. Parent(s), guardians, or caregiver(s) pick up student(s). The student(s) should consult with their healthcare provider for evaluation and determination if testing is recommended.

Student Negative COVID-19 Test Result

  1. Student(s) return to school following existing school illness management policies.

Student Positive COVID-19 test Result

  1. A student(s) is newly identified as having COVID-19.
  2. COVID-19 POC initiates a list of close contacts of the ill student and communicates the possible exposure to teacher(s), staff, and parent(s), guardian(s) or caregiver(s) of student(s) in the school.
  3. Exposed area(s) (e.g., classroom) closed off for up to 24 hours. Cleaning and disinfection of area performed by appropriate staff.
  4. Administrators work with local health officials to assess transmission levels and support contact tracing efforts.
  5. Close contacts are notified, advised to stay home (quarantine for 14 days), and to consult with their healthcare provider for evaluation and determination if testing is recommended.
  6. Administrators or COVID-19 POC communicate with teacher(s), staff, and parent(s), guardian(s) or caregiver(s) the importance of COVID-19 mitigation strategies (e.g., staying home when sick, washing hands, wearing masks, social distancing).
  7. Members of the student(s)' household are requested to quarantine for 14 days.
  8. Student(s) returns to school after meeting the criteria for ending home isolation.
Footnotes

Note: COVID-19 POC is the designated point of contact (a staff person that is responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns, such as a nurse)

  1. Close contact is defined as someone who was within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more within 2 days before illness onset, regardless of whether the contact was wearing a mask.
  2. Student can end home isolation after meeting all of criteria.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

4-10. If it is determined that a classroom is an "exposed area," it should be _____.

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