NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- New York City’s Department of Education is reportedly shortening COVID-19 quarantine and isolation periods for most public school students and staff, starting next week.
Officials said the isolation for staff and students in kindergarten and up who test positive for the virus has been shortened to five days, according to ABC7. Anyone returning from that period should be without a fever for 24 hours without using fever-reducing meds and must overall have improved symptoms.
The guidance also said the returning person should wear a “well-fitting mask” while at school from days 6-10.
The health policies, based on CDC and state guidance, reportedly take hold on Jan. 31.
Students in 3K and Pre-K will continue to have a 10-day isolation period, and should have similar improvements before returning, according to the ABC7 report.
Staff and students at any grade returning from isolation aren’t required to test negative before coming back.
For quarantining, K-12 students who aren’t fully vaccinated and are exposed to the virus outside of school will be asked to quarantine for five days — down from 10, the report said.
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Unvaccinated students exposed in their homes must quarantine for five more days after those living in their house’s isolation period has ended.
Anyone returning from a quarantine period are required to wear a “well-fitting mask” on days 6-10.
Staff and students K-12 who are exposed at school don’t need to quarantine and are asked to use at-home test kits provided by schools, ABC7 reported.
But for students in 3K and Pre-K, changes vary. Students in a classroom setting with someone who tests positive must quarantine from that person during their infectious period.
Those 2+ years old who have been exposed to the virus can test back into school on day six after a five-day quarantine. Before, testing back didn’t come until the eighth day. Students must also be free of symptoms and come up negative on a lab-based test on day 5, or test negative twice using rapid tests on day 4 and 5.
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Officials said students 2+ will receive at-home tests when exposed to the virus, along with while experiencing symptoms, beginning Monday.
Students 2 and younger can test back on day 8 after a seven-day quarantine. Those who don’t test out can return on day 11.