New quarantine guidance for students

Fairfax County Public Schools has issued new Covid guidance on quarantine and isolation. The new rules take effect Monday, Jan. 10.

FCPS has adopted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation that reduces isolation and quarantine to five days. FCPS also adopted the CDC’s recommendation for a five-day period of isolation for staff.

FCPS will not adopt the CDC’s recommendation for isolation for students “as we are unable to implement the required physical distancing protocols during meals,” the school system states. “Students with Covid-19 will need to continue to complete a 10-day isolation period.”

Students who are Covid-positive can return to school when all of these criteria are met:
• The student completes at least 10 days of isolation from symptom onset for symptomatic students or, for asymptomatic students, 10 days since the student tested positive.
• The student is fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, and the symptoms have improved.
• The student submits the FCPS Isolation Letter with the return date to their school.

There are two options for returning to school by students who are a close contact with someone at school exposed to Covid.

• Option 1 – The student completes five days of quarantine; the student is asymptomatic; able to wear a face mask at school for five days after returning; and submits a Pause Letter with the return date to their school.
• Option 2 – The student completes 10 days of quarantine and submits a Pause Letter with the return date to their school. Students with a mask exemption must follow option 2.

Some students and staff may be exempt from quarantine, FCPD states, if they meet the CDC criteria, are able to wear a face mask, and are asymptomatic. Those students must complete the Fairfax County Health Department’s vaccination survey and receive a clearance email from the Health Department before resuming in-person learning. Staff must complete the Fully Vaccinated Exemption form.

FCPS will no longer require Return to School documentation for a student deemed a close contact in the community and outside of the school environment. Those families should adhere to the Health Department’s guidance.