Marion County students returned from winter break last we or are returning this week. The second half of the school year begins with updated guidance from the Indiana Health Department. This was to be expected since the CDC recently changed its guidelines which were received with push back from citizens across the country.
There are two pathways for the guidance, one for schools that require masks and one for schools that do not require masks.
Schools with a mask mandate
- If a student tests positive, the student stays home for five days
- The Student can return to school on day six if the student:
- wears a mask
- is fever free for 24 hours without the help of medicine
- shows evidence of symptoms improving
- If a student is a close contact with a positive student, the student should:
- wear a mask at school if showing no symptoms
- stay home if symptomatic
- be tested on day five after exposure
- follow positive student guidance if the test is positive
Schools without a mask mandate
- If a student tests positive, the student stays home for five days
- The student can return to school on day six if the student:
- wears a mask
- is fever free for 24 hours without the help of medicine
- shows evidence of symptoms improving
- If a student is a close contact with a positive student or someone outside of school and the student is fully vaccinated, the student should:
- return to school and wear a mask for 10 days if symptomatic
- stay home if symptomatic
- be tested on day five after exposure
- follow positive student guidance if the test is positive
- If a student is a close contact with a positive student or someone outside of school and the student is not vaccinated or partially vaccinated, the student should:
- stay home for five days
- be tested on day five after exposure
- return on day six and wear a mask for five days
- follow positive student guidance if the test is positive
Parents should check with their local school district for the most accurate guidance for their children. A school district might have more restrictive measure,s and it is important for parents to know how their children will learn if they end up quarantined.