State Guidance for Schools on COVID-19

Governor Kathy Hochul and State Health Commissioner Mary Bassett held a briefing on state plans for the COVID-19 response.

Key highlights:

• Students and staff exposed to COVID will not have to quarantine. People who were exposed to COVID-19 should follow CDC recommendations to wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days after the exposure and get tested 3-5 days after exposure or if symptoms develop.

• “Test to stay” will end—students will no longer be required to receive a COVID test if exposed to an infected person.

• Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days. Those with symptoms may resume attending school after 5 days if they are fever-free without fever reducing medicine for 24 hours and their symptoms are improving and they wear a mask through day 10. CDC guidance indicates that people can a test-based to potentially shorten the duration of post-isolation mask use (may remove mask before day 10 with 2 negative antigen tests within 48 hours).

• Students who have symptoms must not come to school and should be tested, students will remain home until symptoms are improving and they are fever-free for 24 hours with the aid of fever-reducing medication. Students who experience symptoms at school will be picked up and follow the symptom resolution procedure as described. 

• Universal masking is not required at this time.

• Schools will no longer be required to offer or conduct screening testing.

• Schools are not required to test unvaccinated staff.

• Schools are not required to report daily test results to DOH. Schools that offer onsite testing (through Dutchess County) will be required to report positive case results as they occur.

• Schools will not be required to conduct contact tracing.

Follow this link:  School Opening Document to review our 2022-2023 COVID Planning Document and links below for more helpful information. 

Here is a link to the DOH/SED letter.

Here is a link to a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document.

Here is a link to Dutchess County Community Impact Dashboard, which indicates CDC Community Level of Infection (currently at medium).

Here is a link to CDC COVID-19 Community Level Guidance