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COVID-19 Guidance for Families to Follow

330 Mount Laurel Road
 Mount Laurel, NJ 08054
 Phone: 856.235.3387

BACK TO SCHOOL HEALTH UPDATES

As we begin the school year and have successfully completed our first week back to school, we want to update you on some back-to-school health practices. As we move from the pandemic toward a more endemic approach to promoting health and wellness in our schools, keep in mind many of the prevention strategies mentioned not only protect against COVID-19 spread but can also help prevent the spread of other infectious diseases, such as influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and norovirus, thus supporting a healthy learning environment for all.
 
NJDOH recommends we continue to implement the following COVID-19 prevention and control strategies:
  • Encouraging all of our students and staff to stay up to date with vaccination.
  • Encouraging all of our students and staff to stay home when sick.
  • Support mask use by students and staff who choose to mask at any time.
  • Report any outbreaks and suspected outbreaks immediately to County Health Department.

MASKING

Anyone who chooses to wear a mask or respirator is supported by our schools in their decision to do so at any COVID-19 Community Level, including low. Individuals (including parents/guardians) should make decisions to mask at other times based on their specific situation (e.g., if they or their family members are immunocompromised or at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19) even though school policies do not require masking.
STAY HOME WHEN SICK
Parents should not send students to school when sick, and symptomatic staff should not come to work. For school settings, NJDOH recommends that students/staff with the following COVID-19 compatible symptoms be promptly isolated from others and excluded from school:
 
  • At least two of the following symptoms: chills, rigors (shivers), myalgia (muscle aches), headache, sore throat, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, congestion, or runny nose;
OR
  • At least one of the following symptoms: fever (measure or subjective), worsening cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, new olfactory disorder, and new taste disorder.

ISOLATE IF COVID-19 POSITIVE

Individuals regardless of vaccination status who test positive and individuals with COVID-19 symptoms who have not been tested and do not have an alternative diagnosis from their healthcare provider should:
 
  • Stay home for at least 5 full days after the onset of symptoms or if asymptomatic after the positive test (day of symptoms is day 0; if asymptomatic, the day the test was performed is day 0)
AND
  • If they have no symptoms or symptoms are resolving after 5 days and are fever-free (without the use of fever-reducing medication) for 24 hours, they can return to school
AND:
  • Wear a mask when around others at home and in public for an additional 5 days (including participation in any extracurricular activities). Time without a mask being worn should be kept to a minimum.

QUARANTINING UPDATE

Quarantining is no longer recommended for people who are exposed to COVID-19 except in certain high-risk congregate settings. Schools are generally not considered high-risk congregate settings, people who were exposed to COVID-19 can continue to attend school as long as they remain asymptomatic. Students who may have been in close contact with a positive COVID-19 individual are no longer required to quarantine. However, one should always closely monitor their symptoms for illness and stay home when sick.