Rules for keeping a kid home from school now
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Anonymous
| No fever, but his nose is running and there is some nose blowing. Took a COVID home test in an abundance of caution and it was negative. This afternoon we got a temperature of 99.4, where he is normally around 98.5, and now it’s back down to 98.4. I don’t think this qualifies as a fever but should we keep him home to be safe? Does anyone know where to find the rules on illnesses during the times of Covid? Thanks |
Anonymous
| I would absolutely send to school. I do at home tests for sniffles and congestion and send if negative. If my kid has a cough then I do a lab rapid test. If fever, lab PCR test. |
Anonymous
| Since you've posted this in not FCPS, I will assume you are not in FCPS (where the advice would be different). If your school will not send the kid home and then impose tasks that demand a bunch of time on your part -- i.e. the long slog to getting a PCR test -- then I would follow good sense. Do an at home test to rule out COVID and send to school if it looks like just a cold. |
Anonymous
| Thanks very much, folks1. And sorry, we are in Arlington - APS. I forgot this forum included other school districts! |
Anonymous
| Please, send your sick kid into school so the rest of us can share in the joy of your child making the rest of us sick. |
Anonymous
| Just as an FYI from recent experience- a new runny nose alone results in exclusion from school unless you have a negative PCR test or doctor’s note with alternative diagnosis, per APS policy. |
Anonymous
+1. You have to get the PCR test. Please do the right thing so you don’t endanger other students if it turns out to be covid. |
Anonymous
That definitely doesn’t actually qualify as a fever but is enough of a temp that it could be making your son feel crummy-weak, achy, etc. if he’s feeling bad and blowing his nose a lot I would keep him home. |
Anonymous
This is what I would do too. |
Anonymous
| Give some allergy medicine to dry up the nose. |
Anonymous
|
Thanks, everyone! Looks like they could send him home for a runny nose, according to APS policy. I couldn’t find this before I posted but did find it now: https://www.apsva.us/school-year-2020-21/health-safety/student-illness-covid/" target="_new" rel="nofollow"> https://www.apsva.us/school-year-2020-21/health-safety/student-illness-covid/
Does anyone know where to get the necessary test and how long it takes? I think I read something about being able to get it at Kenmore but it was much faster someplace else? Or maybe I’ve mixed up my tests. Looks like I will keep him home tomorrow, probably, maybe longer depending on testing. I”m not looking to flout the guidelines. I just didn’t know what the guidelines were. (And my kid has allergies so coming to school with a runny nose used to be a totally normal thing.) |
Anonymous
| APS also requires a PCR test to return to school for any illness. Our kid had a stomachache last week, stayed home to rest, had to rest for re-entry. (They were constipated.) |
Anonymous
|
I'd go to Kenmore. You can make an appointment and they should let you know in time for kiddo to go back on Wednesday: https://www.resourcepath.net/covid-19-testing-at-a.../symptom-exposed-backtoschool/
With the county testing you'll hear back much sooner, but the school may not accept it. Ours only wants a physician administered PCR |
Anonymous
| Not sure which school you’re at, but ours sent us a helpful list of local testing places. We’ve had good experiences with Sameday Health and Covid McLean, both of which returned PCR results same day (one for a $75 fee, one for supposedly nothing… TBD). Also heard good things about Curative. |
Anonymous
| Ah yes Curative was the one I heard of that returned tests significantly faster than Kenmore. |