Recommendations for staying home when sick and getting tested:

1. Follow the strategy for Staying Home when Sick and Getting Tested from the CDC
2. Get tested for COVID-19 when symptoms are consistent with COVID-19
3. Advise staff members and students with symptoms of COVID-19 infection not to return for in-person instruction until they have met the following criteria:

1. At least 24 hours have passed since the resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications; AND
2. Other symptoms are improving; AND
3. They have a negative test for SARS-CoV-2, OR a healthcare provider has provided documentation that the symptoms are typical of their underlying chronic condition (e.g., allergies or asthma) OR a healthcare provider has confirmed an alternative named diagnosis (e.g., Streptococcal pharyngitis, Coxsackie virus), OR at least 10 days have passed since symptom onset.
4. If the student or staff member tests positive for SARS-CoV-2, follow the guidance for isolation in Section #10 below.

Recommendations for Students exposed to COVID-19:

Schools may consider permitting asymptomatic exposed students, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status or location of exposure, to continue to take part in all aspects of K-12 schooling, including sports and extracurricular activities, unless they develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19.  

1. Exposed students should wear a well-fitting mask indoors around others for at least 10 days following the date of last exposure, if not already doing so. 
2. Exposed students, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status, should get tested for COVID-19 with at least one diagnostic test (e.g., an FDA-authorized antigen diagnostic test, PCR diagnostic test, or pooled PCR test) obtained within 3-5 days after last exposure, unless they had COVID-19 within the last 90 days. 

1. Exposed students who had COVID-19 within the last 90 days do not need to be tested after exposure but should monitor for symptoms.  If symptoms develop, they should isolate and get tested with an antigen test.
2. If the exposed student has symptoms consistent with COVID-19, they should stay home, get tested and follow the guidance in Section #4 above.
3. If the exposed student tests positive for COVID-19, follow the guidance for isolation in Section #10 below.

Isolation Recommendations

Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, previous infection, or lack of symptoms, should:

• Stay home for at least 5 days after the start of symptoms (or after the date of the first positive test if no symptoms).
• Isolation can end after day 5 if symptoms are not present or are resolving and a diagnostic specimen* collected on Day 5 or later tests negative.
• If unable to test, choosing not to test, or testing positive on Day 5 (or later), isolation can end after Day 10 if fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
• If fever is present, isolation should be continued until 24 hours after fever resolves.
• If symptoms, other than fever, are not resolving, continue to isolate until symptoms are resolving or until after Day 10.
• Per CDPH masking guidance, infected persons should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings (see masking section below for additional information).

 *Antigen test (home test) preferred.