January 14, 2022
Dear KCPS School Community,
After receiving several requests from our school nursing staff, we have included guidance on the steps to take when a family member in the same household tests positive. You will see changes highlighted in yellow.
If You Test Positive for COVID-19 (Isolate)
All persons who test positive for COVID-19 or have suspected COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, should complete isolation as follows:
• Stay home for at least 5 full days from the date of symptom onset if symptomatic or the date of the positive test if no symptoms. Day 1 is considered the first full day after symptoms started in symptomatic persons or the first full day after the person tested positive if asymptomatic.
• After Day 5, if the person has no symptoms or if symptoms are improved, and they have had no fever for at least 24 hours without medication, they may return to school or childcare IF they wear a well-fitting mask when around others* for an additional 5 days.
• Continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
• If you have a fever, continue to stay home until your fever resolves.
If You Were Exposed to Someone with COVID-19
If you:
• Have been boosted
or
• Completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 5 months
or
• Completed the primary series of Johnson & Johnson vaccine within the last 2 months
or
• Have been confirmed of COVID-19 within the last 90 days (i.e. tested positive using a viral test)
Then:
• Wear a mask around others for 10 days.
• Test on day 5, if possible.
• If you develop symptoms, get a test and stay home.
If you:
• Completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 5 months ago and are not boosted
or
• Completed the primary series of Johnson & Johnson over 2 months ago and are not boosted
or
• Are unvaccinated
Then:
• Stay home for 5 days after the last close contact with the person with COVID-19 (Day 1 is considered the first full day after the date of last close contact).
• After that, continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
• Test on day 5 if possible.
• If you develop symptoms, get a test and stay home.
• If a person lives in a household with a positive family member and cannot separate or isolate, the 5-day quarantine begins after the positive person’s last day of isolation. This would total 10 days with scheduled return to school/work on day 11.
Health Checks:
Health Checks remain critical. Parents/guardians should perform a
health check with their children every day and refrain from sending them to school if they show any symptoms of COVID-19 or any other communicable disease. Additionally, parents/guardians should continue to communicate with their child’s school notifying them of a positive test.
As always, we thank our KCPS staff, parents, and students for the continued cooperation and efforts to keep our schools focused on learning in a healthy environment.