Watervliet City School District > Reopening planning and information > Symptoms of COVID-19 and Protocols for Returning to School

Symptoms of COVID-19 and Protocols for Returning to School

Please note: All information is subject to change based on updated guidance from the New York State Department of Health, the Albany County Department of Health and/or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, updated as of Nov. 10, 2020.

Health and Safety Reminders

  • Everyone is required to screen for possible COVID-19 symptoms to enter Watervliet school buildings.
  • All staff and students are required to complete a daily health assessment prior to arriving at school.
  • Anyone exhibiting new or worsening COVID-19 symptoms or may have been exposed to COVID-19 through close contact or travel will not be allowed to enter a school building or will be sent home.

New NYSDOH Guidance for Parents and Staff

If a student or staff member has (or has had in the past 10 days) one or more of the new or worsening symptoms listed below, they will not be allowed to enter a school building or will be sent home. An evaluation by a health care provider (HCP) for COVID-19 (can be in-person or by video/telephone as determined by HCP) must take place for a student or staff member to return to school.

Symptoms of COVID-19

  • A temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 F (37.8 C)
  • Chills
  • Cough
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Congestion or runny nose

Contact your school nurse or your supervisor

Parents/guardians: If your child is exhibiting any of the COVID-19 symptoms above, do not send your child to school. Contact your healthcare provider and contact your child’s school nurse.

Teachers and/or staff: If you are exhibiting any of the COVID-19 symptoms above, do not come to work. Contact your healthcare provider and your direct supervisor.

If a Student or Staff Member Has COVID-19 Symptoms

Per updated NYSDOH guidelines, an evaluation by a health care provider (HCP) for COVID-19 (can be in-person or by video/telephone as determined by HCP) MUST take place before a student or staff member may return to school.

If Your HCP Recommends a COVID-19 Diagnostic Test

  • The student or staff member must stay out of school and isolate until the test result is back.
  • NYS Department of Health and Albany County Department of Health indicate that any student or staff member who exhibits COVID-19 symptoms cannot return to school based on a negative result from a Rapid or point of care COVID test. Only a negative laboratory-based PCR test is acceptable to return to school.  View FDA guidance on different types of testing
  • If test results are not available within 48 hours, per the NYSDOH, the district is required to report this as a presumed positive case of COVID to the Albany County Department of Health.

Please note: Per the updated NYS Department of Health and Albany County Department of Health guidance, any student who is exhibiting a COVID symptom cannot return to school based on a negative result from a rapid or point of care COVID test. Only a negative laboratory-based PCR test is acceptable to return to school.

IF THE COVID-19 TEST IS POSITIVE

  • Your local health department will contact you to follow up.
  • The individual must remain in isolation (at home and away from others) until your local health department has released them from isolation, which is typically:
    • 10 days after symptom onset; AND
    • Symptoms are improving; AND
    • The individual is fever-free for at least 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
    • While in isolation, all members of the household must quarantine at home until released by the local health department, typically 14 days.

IF THE COVID-19 TEST IS NEGATIVE

If symptoms are improving AND the individual is fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines, the student or staff member may return to school with:

  • A note from HCP indicating a COVID laboratory-based PCR test was negative OR
  • Provide a copy of the negative lab test results.

If Your HCP Gives an Alternate Diagnosis

If your HCP provides a diagnosis of a known chronic condition with unchanged symptoms, or a confirmed acute illness (examples: laboratory-confirmed influenza, strep-throat) AND COVID-19 is not suspected, then a note signed by the HCP explaining the alternate diagnosis is required before the student or staff member will be allowed to return to school. They may return to school according to the usual guidelines for that diagnosis.

NOTE: A signed HCP note documenting unconfirmed acute illnesses, such as viral upper respiratory illness (URI) or viral gastroenteritis, is not acceptable.

If a COVID-19 Test is Recommended but Not Done and No Alternate Diagnosis

The student or staff member must remain in isolation at home and is not able to go back to school until the local health department has released them from isolation, which is typically:

  • At least 10 days have passed since date of first symptoms; AND
  • Symptoms are improving; AND
  • The individual is fever-free for at least 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines.

If an Evaluation by an HCP is Not Done

The student or staff member must remain in isolation at home and is not able to go back to school until the local health department has released them from isolation, which is typically:

  • At least 10 days have passed since date of first symptoms; AND
  • Symptoms are improving; AND
  • The individual is fever-free for at least 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines.