Asymptomatic students may not have to quarantine for two weeks under certain conditions, according to updated guidance issued by the Department of Health and Human Services. According to the guidance, schools should continue to work with local health departments to quickly isolate COVID-19 cases among students and staff, identify close contacts of those cases, and adopt quarantine policies that reduce the risk of transmission. When preventative measures are being followed, including universal masking, modifications may be made to the 10 to 14-day at-home quarantine.

Under the new guidance, a student exposed to COVID-19 can remain in school under the following scenarios:

• • A fully vaccinated student who came in close contact with a COVID-19 positive student can remain in school if they wear a mask and monitor symptoms for 14 days after their exposure. They should test three to five days after their last exposure.
  • An unvaccinated student who was masked and exposed to a student who was also masked, who remained at least three to six feet apart can remain in school if they wear a mask but should monitor for symptoms for 14 days.
  • An unvaccinated student who was masked and exposed to a COVID-19 positive student who was also masked but didn’t maintain three feet of distancing can remain in school if they wear a mask, monitor for symptoms for 14 days, and test daily before coming into the school building for seven days.

An unvaccinated student should not participate in in-person learning if either the exposed, and/or COVID-19 positive student, weren’t wearing a mask. They can return to school after a 10-day quarantine, if they have not experienced any symptoms, but should continue to monitor for symptoms for 14 days.  They may return after seven days if they test negative and don’t have any symptoms.

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