Note on COVID Infections

Per updated recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on March 1, 2024, there is no longer a 5-day isolation recommended for people testing positive for COVID.  Symptomatic students are advised to avoid being near others until their symptoms are improving and it has been at least 24 hours since the student experienced a fever (without the use of fever-reducing medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.).

As of March 1, 2024, the CDC now makes the same transmission recommendations for COVID as it does for other respiratory infections such as influenza, which are:

• To stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick) if you have respiratory virus infections that aren’t better explained by another cause. These symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache, among others.
• Go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:
  • Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
  • You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).

• When you go back to your normal activities, take added precaution over the next 5 days, such as taking additional steps for cleaner air, hygiene, masks, physical distancing, and/or testing when you will be around other people indoors.
  • Keep in mind that you may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better. You are likely to be less contagious at this time, depending on factors like how long you were sick or how sick you were.
  • If you develop a fever or you start to feel worse after you have gone back to normal activities, stay home and away from others again until, for at least 24 hours, both are true: your symptoms are improving overall, and you have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Then take added precaution for the next 5 days.