Governor Hochul Updates COVID-19 Guidance for Schools

COVID Mitigation Strategies for the 2022-2023 School Year

Quarantine

• The CDC no longer recommends quarantine except in high-risk congregate settings.

  • The CDC recommends that all people with a known or suspected COVID-19 exposure regardless of vaccination status or history of prior COVID-19 infection follow current CDC exposure recommendations which include wearing a well-fitting mask or respirator for a full 10-day period and getting tested at least 5 days after close contact or sooner if symptoms develop.

Staying Home When Sick or Symptomatic

• The CDC continues to recommend that people stay home when sick. Any student or staff member who has symptoms of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, such as cough, fever, sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea, should stay home.
• Testing is recommended for people with symptoms of COVID-19 as soon as possible after symptoms begin. Those who are at risk for getting very sick with COVID-19 who test positive should consult with a healthcare provider right away for possible treatment, even if their symptoms are mild.
  

• People who are symptomatic and awaiting COVID-19 test results or have tested positive for COVID-19 should follow CDC’s Isolation Guidance.

Isolation

• People who have tested positive or are awaiting COVID-19 test results should remain home and follow the CDC’s Isolation Guidance. Isolation may end based on how serious someone’s COVID-19 symptoms were.

-If someone had no symptoms, isolation may end after day five.

-If someone had symptoms, isolation may end after day five if they are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and symptoms are improving.

-People should wear a mask through day 10 after ending isolation when they are feeling better (no fever without use of fever-reducing medication and symptoms improving).

-Antigen testing is not required to end isolation; however, some schools may allow use of the ” test-based strategy” to potentially shorten the length of time for post-isolation mask use.

This builds upon New York’s rigorous, multi-faceted approach in managing and mitigating COVID-19. Last week, Governor Hochul announced the re-launch of the #Vaxtoschool Covid-19 Vaccine Effort, including more than three dozen pop-up vaccination sites throughout the state in the coming weeks, with more being added in the near future.

In March, the Governor lifted the state mask requirement in schools. This decision was based on key COVID-19 data trends showing New York’s significant progress in vaccinations and declining cases.