IDH Issues New School COVID-19 Guidance Regarding Isolation Period

Under the guidance, students who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for at least five days.

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INDIANAPOLIS - New school COVID-19 guidance has been issued from the Indiana Department of Health.

Indiana officials have updated guidance for K-12 schools after the CDC announced new isolation guidelines for COVID-19 cases this week.

Under the guidance, a student that has tested positive for COVID-19 must isolate for five days. On day six, if asymptomatic or if symptoms are resolving, students may return to class, masking at all times for the next five days.

Students may return to extracurricular activities (masking) on day six.

If students cannot mask, they need to isolate for the full 10 days.

The state says unvaccinated students exposed to COVID-19 in the classroom don’t have to quarantine if they don’t develop symptoms and have been masking at school. However, if an unvaccinated student is exposed outside of school or in the classroom without masks, they should isolate for at least five days.

Fully vaccinated students may stay in school as long as they wear a mask for 10 days following exposure. Testing is recommended on day five, if possible.

At any time a student develops symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, the recommendation is the student get a test and stay home.

For more information, visit CDC Updates and Shortens Recommended Isolation and Quarantine Period for General Population | CDC Online Newsroom | CDC.