COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Viruses

We continue to prioritize the health of our school communities by complying with all requirements and guidance of the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), Labor & Industries, and Public Health - Seattle & King County.

On March 18, 2024, the state DOH released new guidance regarding "What to do when you are sick with COVID-19 or another respiratory virus."

In case it is helpful, here is the "Is My Child Too Sick to Go to School?" guidance from our district nurses.

The DOH has also shared this guidance:

If you have respiratory virus symptoms that are not better explained by another cause (such as allergies) or test positive for COVID-19 or another respiratory virus, follow CDC guidance for staying home and away from others; this includes people you live with who are not sick.

You can go back to your normal activities when both of the following have been true for at least 24 hours:

• Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
• You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication) for at least 24 hours.

You can tell your symptoms are improving when you start to feel better and you feel well enough to fully participate in your activities, such as learning in a classroom or completing tasks at work. A respiratory virus infection can have many types of symptoms, some of which can last beyond when someone is contagious (able to spread the virus), such as a lingering cough. Having a single symptom or a combination of symptoms is not as important as the overall sense of feeling better and the ability to resume activities.

When you go back to your normal activities, wear a mask and take added precautions over the next 5 days, such as taking steps to improve air flow and filtration, practicing good hand hygiene, cleaning regularly, physical distancing, and testing when you will be around other people indoors. You may still be contagious with a respiratory virus after returning to your normal activities, so it is important to take additional precautions.

• People with COVID-19 are often contagious for 5-10 days after their illness begins.
• People with flu may be contagious for up to 5-7 days after their illness begins.
• People with RSV are usually contagious for 3-8 days after their illness begins.

Please visit Public Health - Seattle & King County's website or the Washington State Department of Health for additional information, resources and details.

Student case data will not be collected or published during Winter break, Midwinter break, or Summer break.