This is the information we currently have from the New York State Department of Health and from Dr. Elizabeth Whalen of the Albany County Health Department during a Superintendents meeting on January 7. Please understand this guidance is subject to change.
SYMPTOMS, EXPOSURE AND TESTING
Individuals who develop COVID-like symptoms and have no known exposure to someone with COVID-19 can return to school activities with:
- One lab negative NAAT, lab antigen test, OR
- Two negative over-the-counter (OTC) antigen tests. These tests must be taken 36 hours apart.
Reporting process for OTC antigen tests:
Signed attestations are required upon completion of home testing kits for the individual to return to school. Use the following links:
Testing to return to school after COVID-like symptoms is allowable only for those individuals who are:
- Fully vaccinated with COVID symptoms, with or without a known exposure; or
- Not fully vaccinated with COVID symptoms WITHOUT a known exposure.
In addition to a negative lab NAAT, lab antigen test, or two negative OTC antigen tests, symptomatic individuals must be well enough to:
- Participate in school;
- Not have rhinorrhea (runny nose) or cough severe enough to make mask wearing difficult or unhygienic;
- Be fever-free for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medications; and
- Meet other school or district requirements to return to school after a non-COVID illness.
The following requirements remain in place:
- There is no exemption to the testing requirement for symptomatic vaccinated individuals.
- Individuals with symptoms that are attributable to pre-existing medical conditions (e.g., migraines, allergies) and are not new or worsening do not require school exclusion or testing.
- If a healthcare provider makes a diagnosis of a confirmed non-COVID-19 acute illness (e.g., laboratory-confirmed influenza or strep throat) AND COVID-19 is not suspected, then a note signed by the healthcare provider explaining the alternate diagnosis may be provided to allow a student, teacher, or staff member to participate in school without COVID-19 testing.
Testing Program at School
Remember, the district also offers a diagnostic COVID-19 Test (Lab PCR) through the Quadrant. If you have not utilized the program, you can register using this link.
QUARANTINE — for those who have been exposed
This term is used for individuals who are unvaccinated or have not passed the two week mark from their final vaccination, but have been exposed to COVID-19. (Booster status does not apply at this time.)
Quarantine has been reduced to a full five day period.
Day 0 counts as the last day that the person was exposed to the individual positive with COVID-19 (index person).
Individuals returning from quarantine (come in close contact/unvaccinated):
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- If they become symptomatic, they must follow district protocols and utilize either a rapid antigen test, rapid PCR test, or lab PCR test to return to work when symptoms have subsided.
- ACDOH recommends that when using a rapid antigen test when symptomatic, that a second rapid antigen is performed with 24-48 hours of symptom onset.
- Individuals are encouraged, but not required, to have a COVID-19 test when leaving quarantine.
What “fully vaccinated” and “up-to-date” means
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), students who are “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19 are those who have received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Students who have received a COVID-19 booster dose and are eligible to do so, are considered “up-to-date”.
ISOLATION — for those who test positive
This term is used for individuals who test positive for COVID-19. At this time, Albany County DOH is not recommending a negative rapid antigen test to return from isolation.
Isolation has been reduced to a full five day period.
Day 0 counts as the day that the person became symptomatic or, if asymptomatic, the day they tested positive.
Individuals who are on isolation (test positive):
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- Must isolate for 5 full days.
- If asymptomatic, or if symptoms are resolving, may return after 5 days.
- Must be fever free for 72 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.
- Should not have a runny nose that creates an unsanitary environment for mask wearing.
- Cough must be minimal and not disruptive to the ability to wear a mask. (continuously or coughing up phlegm)
- Must be able to wear a well fitting mask for 5 days upon return.(Disposable, cloth with disposable mask, or KN95 mask recommended)
- If unable to properly wear masks during performance/athletic activities, the person must refrain from participating in those activities for 10 days after testing positive or symptom onset.
- Maintain at least 6 feet of distance among others while eating.