One of the most important ways we can work together in reducing the transmission of COVID-19 is to have your child stay home when:

• They are sick

• They are diagnosed with COVID-19

• They are being tested for COVID-19

• They are considered a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19

• A household member has COVID-19 symptoms

A: Send your child to school if the person being tested is asymptomatic. 

OR

B: Keep your child home if the person being tested has symptoms of COVID-19.

C: Keep your child home if your child has symptoms of COVID-19 or is a close contact to a positive case.

A: Send your child to school if the household member who is the close contact is symptom free.

OR

B: Keep your child home if the household member who is the close contact has symptoms of COVID-19. (The household member who is the close contact is considered a probable case of COVID if he/she is showing symptoms while awaiting test results and everyone in your household at that point is considered a close contact and will need to quarantine.)

There are two types of COVID tests: antigen and PCR tests. The antigen test provides a more rapid result, but is less reliable than the PCR test.

• If your child is positive with symptoms, NJSD accepts the antigen result as positive. Your child will remain at home until at least 10 days have passed since symptom onset AND at least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without use of medicine AND symptoms have improved. Household contacts need to quarantine for 14 days after their last exposure to the positive case.

• If your child is positive without symptoms, NJSD does not accept the antigen result. A follow up PCR test is recommended.

• If your child is negative with symptoms, NJSD does not accept the antigen result. A follow up PCR test is recommended.

STAY HOME while awaiting your COVID-19 test results. See Next Steps: while you wait for your COVID-19 test results.

IF TEST IS NEGATIVE

Remain at home until 24 hours fever free without use of medicine AND improvement in other symptoms.  **If your child is a close contact, he/she will need to complete his/her quarantine. The school can help you determine the length of quarantine.**

IF TEST IS POSITIVE 

Remain at home until at least 10 days have passed since symptom onset

AND

At least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without use of medicine

AND

Other symptoms have improved

See Next Steps: after you are diagnosed with COVID-19

Upon receiving your COVID-19 test result, please call your school office immediately to report the outcome.

If a student tests positive for COVID-19 the following procedure will be followed: 

• Positive case notifies school immediately.  No one that tests positive for COVID-19 should be at school. 

• School staff will follow up with the positive case and the local health department is notified

• Individuals in close contactwith the positive case will be sent home to self-quarantine. Further guidance will be provided regarding when they can return to school. 

• Principal and teacher initiate remote learning plan for impacted students.

Winnebago County Health Department: Types of COVID-19 Tests

Winnebago County Health Department: Free Community Testing Sites

No, if your child tests negative during the quarantine period, it is still important to complete the full 14 day quarantine before it is safe to return to school or be around others. This form may be helpful to monitor for any symptoms.

The quarantine duration is 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19. If you live with the person who has COVID-19 and are unable to isolate (separate bedroom & bathroom and no contact) from that person, the quarantine duration may be at least 24 days. The health department and/or school staff will help you determine when your child may return to school.

Student-athletes who are a close contact to a positive COVID-19 case must quarantine for 14 days before returning to sports.