Updated COVID-19 Guidance for Students & Staff

Please note: this is updated guidance as of March 2024.

Following the change in guidance from the CDC and the NYS Department of Health, the Syracuse City School District is revising its guidance for when to stay home and when staff and students can return to work or school. These SCSD updated guidelines pertain to respiratory illnesses including COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

• Individuals should stay home and away from others, including people they live with who are not sick, if they have respiratory virus symptoms that are not better explained by another cause. These symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache.
• Individuals can go back to work, school, and normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both of the following are true:

1. Symptoms are getting better overall, and
2. They no longer have a fever without the use of fever-reducing medication.

• When going back to normal activities, staff and students should take added precautions over the next 5 days, including taking additional steps for cleaner air, hygiene, masks, physical distancing, and testing when they will be around other people, especially older adults, young children, and those with weakened immune systems. Children under age 2 should never wear a mask.
• Keep in mind that people may still be able to spread the virus that made them sick, even if they are feeling better, so it is important to take extra precautions after resuming normal activities.
• If individuals develop a fever or start to feel worse, they should stay home and away from others again. They should use the same criteria for returning to normal activities as when they first had symptoms and take added precautions over the next 5 days.

 
Staff or Students Who are Contacts of COVID Positive Persons

• There is no longer quarantining for those exposed to COVID-19. However, it is recommended an individual wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested on day 5.??????? 
• At-home COVID-19 tests are available upon request from your school’s main office. 
• At-home COVID-19 tests must be done at home and not at work or school.