From the Nurse

Winter Illness Guidance

Happy New Year, St. John Families! With winter season in full swing, the school is seeing an increased rate of absences for various illnesses that are circulating in the community, including COVID-19, Influenza (flu), stomach viruses, and other flu-like illnesses. Please keep the following guidance in mind:

  • Students must stay home if they are sick. Help keep our student and staff community healthy by keeping children home from school if they are sick.
  • For non-COVID illness: Students may return to school once they feel better and have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication to reduce the fever.
  • For vomiting: Students should stay home for 24 hours after the last time they vomited.
  • If a student becomes ill at school, they may be asked to wear a mask. BD Triplex, which detects COVID-19 and Influenza A&B in one single rapid test, may be administered at school with parent/guardian consent.

COVID-19 Guidelines: The school continues to follow Department of Health (DOH) guidance regarding COVID-19 cases. The school also continues to update the COVID Data Dashboard. As a reminder, the DOH guidance regarding COVID-19 is the following:

  • For Individuals Who Test Positive For COVID-19**:
    • Stay home and isolate from Day 0 through Day 5. The first day of symptoms or a positive test (whichever comes first) is Day 0. The guidelines do not allow for a return from isolation even with a negative test before Day 5.Wear a mask indoors for Days 6 through 10 unless the individual has two negative rapid tests on two consecutive days.
  • For Individuals Exposed to COVID-19 (sibling/parent or close contact tests positive)
    • Monitor for symptoms Wear a mask indoors at school for one week after
    exposure
    • Test daily or every other day for one week (The school has rapid test kits available to pick up in the front office.).

** It can now take longer after symptoms appear for rapid tests to turn positive. A rapid test may not turn positive until Day 3+ after symptoms appear. It is recommended to re-test beyond Day 2 of symptoms.