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Covid-19 News & Resources

In response to the public health risks associated with the COVID-19 virus, GSES continues to monitor daily updates from world, national, state, and local health officials.

The following guidelines are based on current CDC guidelines and recommendations.

Isolation and Quarantine Guidance

  • Symptomatic persons (regardless of vaccination status) should begin isolation at home and undergo testing as recommended by their healthcare providers. The day symptoms began should be counted as day 0.
  • Persons who test positive (regardless of vaccination status) should isolate themselves at home for at least 5 days. If they are asymptomatic and have been fever-free for 24 hours without medication, they may return to programming after Day 5, provided:
    • The individual wears a mask through Day 10
    • If the individual is unable or unwilling to mask during this time, the person should remain home through Day 10.
  • For exposed but asymptomatic persons (regardless of vaccination status), quarantine is no longer recommended for the above settings. These individuals may continue to attend programming as long as they remain asymptomatic. 
    • Exposure is defined as being within 6 feet of a person who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more over 24 hours or having direct contact with respiratory secretions from an infected person.
    • Masks: Students/staff that attend programming during this time must wear a mask around others indoors until Day 10.
    • Testing: Exposed and asymptomatic persons must test on day 5 after exposure and report the results to the school nurse.
    • If a student or staff person in this group has ongoing household exposure to a person with COVID-19, VDH recommends students, families, and staff consider more frequent testing. These individuals must be masked indoors and around others from Day 1 through the infected individual’s Day 15. The exposed but asymptomatic individual must test on the infected person’s Day 15 and report the results to the school nurse. If the result is negative, the exposed but asymptomatic individual may discontinue wearing a mask.
    • If a student or staff person develops symptoms (fever, cough, or shortness of breath), he or she should isolate immediately and get tested. The individual should stay home until test results are received.
    • If a student or staff person develops symptoms (fever, cough, or shortness of breath), he or she should isolate immediately and get tested. The individual should stay home until test results are received.
    • If a classroom has a positive case of COVID, the nurse will notify those who were potentially exposed so they can make informed decisions on behalf of their personal health and that of their families, especially with respect to any pre-existing health conditions that may increase their risk of severe illness with COVID-19.
    • Students who are exposed to COVID must wear a mask for a total of 10 days while indoors and must test on Day 5 and report the results to the nurse. Even if the student tests negative on Day 5, the student will be asked to wear a mask indoors through Day 10.

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