Managing Student & Household Illness

If you are returning to school from TRAVEL, you need a FDA EUA-approved molecular SARS-CoV2 test. The following tests are accepted:


  • PCR

  • Abbott ID NOW COVID-19

  • Rapid Antigen







If you are returning to school due to ILLNESS, you need a FDA EUA-approved molecular SARS-CoV2 test. The following are accepted:


  • PCR

  • Abbott ID NOW COVID-19

Updated 4/7/21

As we welcome our students back to in person learning, we want to remind families that everyone plays a vital role in keeping our school community safe.


Now, more than ever, we need families to be aware of the health of their family and continue to keep students home when they are not feeling well.

  • Continue to use the Symptom Screening Checklist.

  • Communicate with your pediatrician with symptom concerns and discuss the need for testing.

  • If your student stays home due to illness, please call your school nurse and indicate their symptoms or diagnosis when you call into the school.

  • The school nurse will communicate with your student's teachers and administration if necessary.

  • Student may return per our back to school guidelines (fever free for 24 hrs without use of medication and an improvement in symptoms) and a negative COVID-19 test if one was ordered by a physician.

  • If COVID-19 test is positive, please call your school nurse for individual instructions


Mansfield Public Schools will accept ONLY FDA EUA-approved molecular SARS-CoV2 tests including the PCR and Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 test for return to school for illness or quarantine.

During school days, it is imperative that parents and guardians have an adequate emergency plan in place for picking up their child in a timely manner to avoid additional exposure for our community. Please ensure your Emergency Contact list is up to date.


When a Parent/Guardian or Others in a Student’s Household are ill:

When one person in your family is having symptoms associated with COVID-19, it is important to protect your whole family from potential exposure. Other household members should try to distance from the sick individual who has been tested as much as possible as a precautionary measure. If the sick individual cannot isolate while waiting for test results, this might be the time to keep students home. Our school nurses can assist with that decision depending on the severity of symptoms and the interactions of household members.


It is important to emphasize that if a student is waiting on COVID-19 test results for any reason, they cannot come into school buildings or participate in school activities until results are received. Testing may be done for symptoms of illness, travel, or another unknown reason. Please contact your school nurse with information.


Key Steps to Take While Waiting For COVID-19 Results

For more information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing, please visit: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/about-covid-19-testing#where-can-get-a-test?-

MANAGING SEASONAL ALLERGIES AND ASTHMA

We are entering the season where asthma and allergies can start to flare up. We need to be aware that simple symptoms such as a scratchy throat or congestion in combination with another symptom may be indicative of COVID-19 and should not be ignored.

Please start students on their daily medications that help prevent bothersome symptoms characteristic of their past history of asthma or seasonal allergies. Simple things such as keeping windows closed during high pollen counts and showering before bed can decrease exposure to irritants.


Additional strategies can be found in this link: Seasonal Allergies: Nip Them in the Bud.