My child tested positive for COVID. When can they return to school?

If your child tested positive for COVID and they were asymptomatic at the time of testing, then their test date is DAY ZERO. They should isolate for at least 5 days and are welcome to return to school on day 6 as long as they remain symptom free.

If your child tested positive and was tested because they were symptomatic, then the start of their symptoms is considered DAY ZERO. They should isolate for at least 5 days and can end their isolation on day 6 or after as long as their symptoms are improving and they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication.

My child is fully vaccinated and was in close contact to a positive COVID case outside of school. Can they come to school?

Yes. As long as your child is fully vaccinated and they are symptom free, they are exempt from testing and quarantine protocols and are welcome to come to school.

My child is not fully vaccinated and we were notified that they were a close contact to a positive COVID case outside of school. Can they come to school?

Your child can return to school after an exposure to a positive case as long as they are asymptomatic and have completed 5 days of quarantine since the date of the exposure.

My child tested negative on a rapid at home test but I had them PCR tested to be sure. I still don’t have the results of the PCR test. Can they return to school?

No. Please do not send your child to school until you have received the results of the PCR test. They are welcome to return once they have received the negative results of the PCR test and they are asymptomatic.
****If your child was PCR tested for any reason and you don’t have the results yet, your student should NOT come into school until you have received the negative results.

My child tested positive using a rapid at-home test. Should we notify the school?

Yes. If your child tests positive on a rapid at home test, you should consider them positive and they should immediately begin their isolation period.
Please notify your school nurse of your child’s test results.
Please notify anyone who was in close contact with your child in the 48 hours prior to your child’s positive test. A close contact is defined as anyone who was closer than 6 feet for 15 minutes or more in a 24 hour period.

If someone tests positive for COVID-19, do they need a negative test to return to school?

No. Repeat testing is not required.

My child is fully vaccinated but has a fever of 100.0 - or - difficulty breathing - or - new loss of taste or smell - or- muscle aches or body aches...is it okay if I come to school?

No. Vaccinated or not, if you experience any of these symptoms you must stay home, contact your PCP and seek COVID-19 testing.

Who can I turn to when I have questions?

The Director of School Nursing Services and every Braintree Public School nurse is fluent in COVID protocols and are available to consult with you during the school day if you have any questions or concerns. Please call your PCP or the Board of Health with any questions you may have outside of school hours.

Daily Symptom Checklist

Be sure to self-monitor for the following COVID-19 symptoms before coming to school each day:

Any of the following symptoms, student/staff must stay home:

Fever (100.0 Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
New loss of taste or smell
Muscle aches or body aches

Any of the following combination of symptoms or at the discretion of the nurse, students/staff must stay home:

Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, when in combination with other symptoms
Headache, when in combination with other symptoms
Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms.

Definitions

FULLY VACCINATED:

A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving one dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. A booster dose is not required in order to be considered fully vaccinated.

CLOSE CONTACT:

A person is considered a close contact if they are within 6 feet of a covid positive person for a total of 15 minutes or more in a 24 hours period.

ISOLATION:

The period of time a COVID positive person has to remain at home and away from others while recovering from the virus. The Department of Public Health along with the Department of Education recently amended the length of isolation from 10 days to 5 days.

QUARANTINE:

The period of time a person has to remain at home and away from others if they were closer than 6 feet to a COVID positive person for 15 minutes or more in a 24 hour period.

DAY ZERO:

Day zero is what we refer to as the start of someone’s isolation or quarantine. If someone tests positive for COVID but has no symptoms, their day zero is the date that they tested positive for COVID. If someone tests positive for COVID and tested because they were experiencing symptoms, the first day that they developed symptoms is considered their DAY ZERO.