Bethlehem Central School District is following the latest guidance from the New York State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) regarding COVID-19. For more information, please review “What Parents/Caregivers Should Know about COVID Mitigation Strategies for the 2022-2023 School Year” (August 2022).
Illness/positive COVID test
As with any infectious illness, students and staff who test positive for COVID-19, or who show symptoms, are asked to stay home from school and follow the Centers for Disease Control’s Isolation Guidance.
General Isolation Guidelines from the CDC
- Someone who is sick (has symptoms of COVID) should isolate at home and be tested as soon as possible.
- Someone who tests positive and has symptoms may return to school after day 5 if they have been fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and symptoms are improving.
- Someone who tests negative may return to school as soon as they have been fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and symptoms are improving.
- Someone who tests positive and never develops symptoms may return to school after day 5.
- People who have tested positive (with or without symptoms) should wear a mask through day 10.
Should my child come to school?
It is important to keep your child home if they are ill. Families can view or download the BCSD COVID-19 Protocols Quick Guide for determining when their child can return to school.
More information for families about isolation can be found on the CDC website.
Testing
Testing is recommended for people with symptoms of COVID-19 as soon as possible after symptoms begin.
At-home test kits
The district can provide at-home COVID-19 test kits for students. If you need a home COVID test, please contact the main office at your child’s school.
COVID-19 vaccination
COVID-19 vaccinations are not required to attend school. Children ages 6 months and older are all eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Children older than 5 are eligible for a booster. For more information, visit ny.gov/vaxtoschool.
Masks
There is no universal mask requirement for the start of the 2022-23 school year. Any student or staff member may wear a mask while at school to prevent the spread of illness. Mask-wearing is recommended for at least 10 days following a positive COVID test, or COVID illness.
Daily Cleaning
Routine daily cleaning in our school buildings continues to be an important strategy for reducing the spread of illness.
COVID as a communicable disease
As with all communicable diseases, when a family reports a COVID-positive case to the school, the school is required to report the case to the Albany County Department of Health. This data helps public health agencies monitor possible outbreaks and trends.