When to Keep Your Child Home

When To Stay Home Guidelines

If a student is exhibiting any of these symptoms: cough, fever of 100.4 or higher, chills, shortness of breath, muscle aches, headache, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting,  or loss of smell/taste: the student MUST isolate at home and test for Covid-19.

If student is negative for Covid-19 they may return to school if:

  • No fever within the past 24 hours (without medication)
    AND
  • Symptoms have significantly improved

If symptoms persist. Retest every 24-48 hours through at least five days after symptoms started.

In the case of a known exposure to COVID-19:

  • If a co-op student or staff member is diagnosed with COVID-19, we will report to Public Health and North Seattle College. 
  • All affected classes will be notifiedif someone in attendance at school tests positive for COVID-19.  In all cases the confidentiality of the family will be respected.  Information shared with the school at large will be: class where exposure may have happened, last day that exposure occurred, and nature of exposure (student/working caregiver/teacher).  
  • Teachers, students, and working caregivers with a known Covid-19 exposure may continue to come to class if they test negative for Covid-19  and do not develop symptoms within 10 days. They should wear a well fitting mask (preferably kn94, n95 type) while at school for 10 days and retest every 24-48 hours for the first 5 days after exposure.   

In the case of a Covid-19 positive student, staff or working caregiver:

  • The Co-Chairs should be notified as soon as possible. Info will also be shared with health and safety manager and plan will be set for follow up with family. 
  • Anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 should remain home and isolate for 5 days. 
  • If after 5 days they are testing negative on a home rapid antigen test AND their symptoms have greatly improved they may return to school but should wear a well fitting (kn94, n95v type) mask for day 6-10. If they continue to test positive they should remain home until day 10 and then may return to school. Testing status will need to be communicated to Co-chairs before returning.

Daily Health Screening for students, staff and working parents

Before coming to school families should be self screening for Covid-19 symptoms. Do you or your child have any of the following symptoms that are not attributable to another condition now or in the past 24 hours? 

  • A cough 
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing 
  • A fever of 100.4°F or higher or a sense of having a fever 
  • A sore throat 
  • Chills 
  • New loss of taste or smell 
  • Muscle or body aches 
  • Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea 
  • Congestion/running nose – in conjunction with other symptoms and not related to seasonal allergies or cold weather
  • Unusual fatigue
  • Has your child had any medication to reduce a fever before coming to care? 

If the answer to all of the above questions is “no” then you and your child are clear to come to school