Symptoms of COVID-19 and Protocols for Returning to School

Updated: Feb. 18, 2021

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

To enter Guilderland CSD school buildings:

Everyone is required to screen for possible COVID-19 symptoms.
All staff and students are required to complete a daily health assessment before 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.
If any staff or student has a household member exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, they cannot enter a school building until the symptomatic household member receives a negative lab-based/PCR test result or an alternative diagnosis.

Guidelines from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) will be used to determine what to do when a student or staff member is experiencing one or more symptoms of COVID-19.

New NYSDOH Guidance for Parents and Staff

If a student or employee has (or has had in the past 10 days) one or more of the new or worsening symptoms 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 symptomatic child or other household members to school. Contact your healthcare provider and contact your child’s school nurse.

Faculty/Staff: If you exhibit any of the COVID-19 symptoms above, do not come to work. If you have a member of your household with COVID-19 symptoms, 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 for a student or staff member to 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.
If test results are not available within 48 hours, per the NYSDOH, GCSD is required to report this as a presumed positive case of COVID to the Albany County Department of Health.

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 household members must quarantine at home until released by the local health department, OR until 10 days have passed and have not exhibited symptoms.

Note: A repeated negative COVID-19 test is not required to return to school.

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.

A signed HCP note documenting unconfirmed acute illnesses, such as viral upper respiratory illness (URI) or viral gastroenteritis, will not suffice.

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.

Staff, please note: You may not qualify for Paid Sick Leave benefits due to COVID-19 without a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.

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 the 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.

Staff, please note: You may not qualify for Paid Sick Leave benefits due to COVID-19 without a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.

Resources

Guilderland Central School District

NYSDOH Pre-K to Gr 12 Toolkit

The NYSDOH COVID-19 Pre-K to Gr. 12 Toolkit includes flow charts for school districts, parents, school staff, health providers and others to use when determining:

Can my child go to school today?
When can my child go back to school?
Can I go to work today?
When can I return to work?

U.S. Food & Drug Administration Coronavirus Disease 2019 Testing Basics

Please note: Per the updated NYS Department of Health and Albany County Department of Health guidance, any student 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.

Albany County Department of Health Testing & Results

Find information about who to call if you have symptoms of COVID-19, testing sites in Albany County, contacting tracing worksheets and more. Visit the ACDOH COVID-19 Testing & Results website.