FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WVDE Updated COVID Guidance
January 31, 2022
With implementation of a universal mask policy:
- Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others.
- Day 0 is the first day of symptoms or the positive test date if asymptomatic.
- Separation during breakfast and lunch for returning positive students during days 6 through 10 is no longer required.
- They have completed 5 full days of isolation from onset of symptoms or test date if asymptomatic.
- They are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications.
- Their symptoms are improving.
- Home tests meet testing requirements with results being communicated to the school.
Positive students and staff may return to school if:
Positive youth may return to unmasked extracurricular activities on days 6-10 if they obtain a negative antigen test on day 5 or after and meet the previous guidelines to return to school.
Handling contacts with a universal mask policy:
- Contact tracing can be discontinued and is no longer required for times when students are not wearing a mask such as during lunch, or during extracurricular activities.
- Close contacts regardless of vaccination status may continue in-person learning if they remain asymptomatic.
- Household contacts of positive individuals may stay in school if they remain asymptomatic.