Respiratory Illness

The CDC states students/staff can go back to school when their overall symptoms improve and they’re fever-free for 24 hours without taking medication. Students/staff are “encouraged” to wear a mask when they return.

2023-2024 School Year Protocols

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Mass.gov has recently updated its guidance to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, Influenza, RSV, and others. Please continue to report your child if absent due to illness, what symptoms they have, and any positive testing for respiratory illness.

When sick from a respiratory virus, you may spread germs for about ten days after your symptoms start or after a positive test, even if you don’t have symptoms.  Be aware that some people around you may have risk factors for more severe diseases.  Masking, physical distancing, hand hygiene, and covering your coughs and sneezes may help protect them.

Schools and childcare settings should follow the general population's recommendations.

Overview of things you can do to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses:

• Get vaccinated for flu and COVID-19.

• Stay home when you are sick. (follow the recommendations below)

• Use hand and respiratory hygiene. 

• Wear a mask around others. 

• Get tested for flu and COVID-19 so you can get treated.

• Avoid crowded areas and maintain physical distance.

• Increase fresh air.

If you have been exposed to someone with a respiratory virus, you do not need to stay home as long as you remain asymptomatic. Just remember that you may be able to spread a respiratory virus before developing symptoms.   

Stay home if you start to develop any signs of illness.

To protect others, especially those with risk factors for severe illness, take precautions: 

• Wash your hands often

• Consider wearing a mask and avoiding crowded places

• Monitor yourself for symptoms carefully

If you have symptoms of a respiratory virus, such as a fever, sore throat, cough, or a runny or stuffy nose, you should stay home and away from others in your household.  You should do this even if you don’t know what virus is making you sick.  

While you are staying home:

• Get tested for COVID-19 and flu. Talk to your healthcare provider about treatments if you test positive.

• Stay away from others in your household. Wear a mask when you have to be around them.

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water. If soap and water are unavailable, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.  Use a tissue or your inner elbow, not your hands.

• Clean high-touch surfaces (such as countertops, handrails, and doorknobs) often.

When you start to feel better:

You may begin to resume normal activities with precautions if you have not had a fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines AND your other symptoms are improving. Remember, you may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you feel better.

For at least the first 5 days after you resume normal activities, take these extra precautions:

• Avoid crowded indoor spaces. 

• Wear a mask anytime you are indoors around other people 

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water. If soap and water are unavailable, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

• Avoid spending time with people who are at increased risk for severe disease

• If your fever comes back or any other symptoms start to get worse, you should stay home and stay away from others until you feel better again, have no fever for at least 24 hours, AND symptoms are improving.