Attending school on a regular basis is important for each child’s academic and social development. Parents often have trouble deciding whether their child is too ill to go to school. Your child is too sick to go to school and should remain home if any of these symptoms are present:
- Has a temperature of 100 degrees or above. When your child has been fever-free for 24 hours (WITHOUT FEVER-REDUCING MEDICATION), is feeling better and has no other symptoms, he/she may return to school
- Has pain from earache, headache, sore throat or a recent injury
- Has a cough that interferes with the child’s daily routine
- Has vomiting or diarrhea
- Has green or yellow drainage from the eyes
- Has broken out in an unknown/contagious rash
- Has a contagious disease such as chickenpox, strep throat, pinkeye or COVID-19
These will be the same symptoms your child will be sent home from school. If your child is sent home from school with a fever they should be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school.
Anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should stay home if they are sick and speak to their healthcare provider about the appropriate treatment. The CDC recommends that anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 should isolate at home for 5 days, on day 6, if symptoms have improved, they may leave their home but continue to wear a mask around others until day 10.