COVID-19 Students Help Center: Return-to-School Guidance
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Accurate as of August 23, 2022
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Notice: This page will be updated regularly. We hope the information on this page makes return-to-school guidance easy to understand. Please reach out to your child's program if you need additional information.
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If a student presents with COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of the student’s vaccination status, student must adhere to the Nassau BOCES COVID-19 Return to School Protocol. For more information, see 2022-23 School Year FAQs for Parents and Caregivers on the New York State Department of Education website.
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Chronic Conditions
If a student’s symptoms are diagnosed as a chronic condition with unchanged symptoms, or a laboratory confirmed acute illness (for example: laboratory confirmed influenza, strep throat etc.) AND COVID-19 is not suspected they can return to school if:
- They have been fever-free, without using fever-reducing medicines, and they have felt well for 24 hours.
- They have a healthcare provider written note stating they have been diagnosed with a chronic condition.
- They have a healthcare provider note explaining laboratory confirmed alternate diagnosis and are cleared to return to school.
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Symptomatic
If a student HAS BEEN evaluated for COVID-19 or MIS-C by a health care provider based on a COVID-19 or MIS-C symptoms, or has any COVID-19 or MIS-C symptoms that have not been diagnosed by a health care provider as a chronic condition, they should not be at school and should:
- Isolate at home for 5 days, where day 0 is the day of symptom onset or if asymptomatic, the day of collection of the first positive specimen.
- At the end of 5 days, if asymptomatic or if symptoms are resolving, isolation ends, and the individual may return to school wearing a well-fitting mask.
- They are at least fever free for 24 hours without using fever reducing medications.
- Note: individuals who are moderately-severely immunocompromised should continue to follow standard 10-day isolation guidance (not shortened)
- Have parents fill out this form for their child to return to school. Affirmation of Isolation (ny.gov)
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Exposure
It is recommended that those exposed to COVID-19 wear a well-fitting mask or respirator for a full 10-day period and get tested at least 5 days after close contact or sooner if symptoms develop. The current guidance holds for all individuals irrespective of vaccination status or history of prior COVID-19 infection.
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To review Nassau BOCES schools administrators' procedures, see our Confirmed COVID-19 Case Requirements page.