SCHOOL NURSE NOTES

WCSCC/CDC COVID GUIDELINES FOR 2022-2023

If you are sick, we ask that you stay home until feeling better.  If suspected to have COVID or another communicable disease (strep-throat, influenza) stay home and contact your physician for further guidance and test for COVID if needed.  As with any illness you should have no diarrhea, vomiting or fever for 24 hours without the use of medication before returning to school.

Those who test positive for COVID 19 (regardless of vaccination status)

Isolate for 5 days return day 6 and mask for 5 days.  If you return on day 6 symptoms must be improving and you should have no diarrhea, vomiting or fever for 24 hours without medication)

Date of symptoms is day 0- 1st day of isolation starts the next day and it’s 5 full days of isolation and mask for 5 days

If no symptoms test date is day 0-1st day of isolation starts the next day and it’s 5 full days of isolation and mask for 5 days

Example:  Symptoms start on 8/9 (day zero) day 1-5 of isolation is 8/10,11,12,13,14-return masked on 15th,16,17,18,19-unmask the 20th.

Those who were a close contact to a COVID Positive Case

Regardless of vaccination status you should wear a mask for 10 days and test on day 5 if able.  If you develop symptoms stay home and test for COVID. 

How do you know if you were a close contact

Close contact = less than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes in a 24-hour period

Go back 2 days from when the persons symptoms started.  If you were in contact with the person on those 2 days prior to symptoms or any time after, then you are considered a close contact.

If the close contact was in the home, you go by the date the person’s symptoms started or if no symptoms their test date to determine masking.

If the close contact was not in the home, you go by the last date of contact with that person to determine masking.

Example- Person had symptoms on 8/9 go back 2 days to 8/7-were you around them any time on or after 8/7 meeting close contact guidelines?  If no-do nothing. If yes and last date of contact was 8/8 then 8/8 would be day 0 and you would mask 8/9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18 unmasking on 8/19 if you didn’t develop symptoms. If you develop symptoms stay home and test.   

If you are exposed and had COVID in the past 90 days, you still mask for 10 days and monitor for symptoms

 

IN GENERAL - WHEN SHOULD MY CHILD STAY HOME?

  •  Fever of 100.0 degrees or above (Your child should be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school without the use of fever reducing medication).
  • Diarrhea or vomiting that can’t be explained by a medical condition or medication being taken (Your child should be free from vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours if due to illness before returning to school). 
  • Know the symptoms of the flu (fever, cough, sore throat, headache, body aches, vomiting and diarrhea).  Someone with the flu will have a combination of these symptoms.  If a fever last for more than 3 days call your child’s doctor
  • If your child has a contagious illness requiring antibiotics generally they can return to school after a 24 hour use of the medication.  Make sure your child is feeling well enough to return.  If you are ever unsure check with your child’s doctor and provide the school with a doctor’s note stating the return to school date or call your child’s school and ask. 

Following these guidelines will help to prevent the spread of illness with in the schools.

 

MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION AT SCHOOL:

Please remember the following when sending in prescription medication to school

  • The medication needs to be in the original container/box in which it was picked up from the pharmacy. 
  • Please have the “Prescription Medication Administration” form filled out and signed by the physician and then the opposite side signed by the parent/guardian.  This form is required by state law and is school policy if you want your child to take prescription medication at school.  If this is not done your child will not be able to take his or her medication at school unless it is administered by the parent or someone the parent has authorized to the school.   
  • Over-the-Counter medication requires an “Over-the-Counter Medication Administration” form to be signed by the parent/guardian in order to take any over-the-counter medication at school.  This medication has to be in an unopened bottle/container upon arrival to school.

These forms can be picked up in the office of each building, found in FinalForms, on the school website under High School, For Parents, Forms, Links and Resources, or your physician can call and we can fax one to the doctor’s office if needed. Please remember that the physician and parent/guardian need to sign the form.