COVID-19
COVID Guidance and Protocols |
Guidance for COVID Positive Individuals
- Isolate for 5 days (where day 0 is the day symptoms started, or day you test positive if asymptomatic, whichever came first).
- If you have remained symptom-free or if symptoms are resolving, and you feel you are well enough to work, you can end isolation after 5 days. (Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and should not delay the end of isolation).
- If you continue to have fever or your other symptoms have not improved after 5 days of isolation, you should wait to end your isolation until you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved.
- You should continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public for 5 additional days (day 6 through day 10) after the end of your 5-day isolation period.
- If you are moderately to severely immunocompromised, isolate for 10 days.
- Avoid contact with those who are at high risk for at least 10 days after positive test or onset of symptoms.
Mask Policy Update
Beginning on March 2, 2022, the Syracuse City School District adopted new masking guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), and the Onondaga County Health Department (OCHD) for Pre-K-12 schools.
Effective March 2, 2022, universal masking will no longer be required for students, staff members, or visitors to SCSD schools. This includes on First Student buses. There will be, however, several instances in which an individual would be required to – or strongly recommended to – mask. Please see below for complete guidelines, which apply to all individuals, vaccinated or unvaccinated.
Masking is still required when:
- Returning to work or school for days 6-10 post COVID-19 infection. This includes sports and extracurricular activities.
- If a COVID-19 infected person is unable to mask, they must be excluded from school or work for 10 days.
To ensure the health and safety of our students, staff, and community, we will continue to implement mitigation strategies to help decrease the spread of COVID-19, including improved air filtration, frequent hand-washing, daily cleaning protocols and more. Free at-home COVID test kits will continue to be provided upon request – please contact your school’s main office for details.
As always, if your child is sick or demonstrating COVID-19 symptoms, they should be kept home from school and be tested for COVID-19.
Regardless of your personal stance on masking, please remember that many people still have valid reasons to mask. The SCSD has zero tolerance for bullying, and we ask you to remind your children that it is each person’s personal choice to wear a mask and to stress the importance of being respectful of others’ choice.
Thank you for your support and cooperation as we continue to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 Testing
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Click here to learn more about community COVID-19 Testing. Use one of the links below to find a COVID-19 test site near you. Appointments may be required. Your physician and many pharmacies may also be able to provide testing. At home COVID-19 test kits will be provided free of charge to SCSD students and staff as needed and as determined by administration. Please notify your child's school nurse or main office of a positive COVID-19 test result for your child. |
At Home Testing
How to use the iHealth COVID-19 Antigen
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Access Bio Carestart Antigen Home Test Kit - Instructional Video |
Vaccine Clinics
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CDC recommends that eligible individuals get a COVID-19 vaccine to help protect against COVID-19. We encourage our families to be vaccinated.You may be asked for insurance information when signing up for an appointment, but the vaccine is free and there will never be a charge to you. You do not need to have insurance to get the vaccine. Find a clinic near you: NYS Onondaga County Vaccines.gov Many pharmacies may also be able to provide vaccination: CVS Kinney Drug Rite Aid Walgreens Wegmans |
To view the new expiration dates for these tests, please click here.
Please click here to check for extended expiration dates for the iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Tests (orange box).
