Click on the image below to open a PDF of the most recent symptom flowcharts (available in English, Russian, and Spanish), also known as "COVID decision trees." These flowcharts are updated by the Washington Department of Health as guidance changes.

If you are unsure about when your student can return to school after testing positive for COVID-19, the WA Dept. of Health's Isolation and Quarantine Calculator can help. Contact your school nurse if you have any questions.

Please note that school quarantine guidelines vary from the guidelines listed on the WA DOH's website. If your student has been exposed to a positive COVID case, regardless of vaccination status, they do not need to quarantine unless they are experiencing symptoms.

UPDATED GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS, AUGUST 2022

School and Child Care COVID-19 Guidance Brief for School Staff
On August 5, 2022, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) released an updated version of the Requirements and Guidance to Mitigate COVID-19 Transmission in K-12 Schools and Child Cares. This COVID-19 guidance is important for school staff and administrators making critical decisions around COVID-19. The requirements and recommendations in the guidance mitigate risk around the spread of COVID-19.

Key points and changes to the school & childcare guidance are summarized below:

• Students or staff who test positive for COVID-19 must stay home and isolate for 5 days. Repeating initial tests does not change this requirement. See the What to do if a person is symptomatic flowchart for more information.

• Students or staff returning from 5 days of isolation should wear a well-fitted mask from days 6 to 10. Students and staff are also encouraged to test before returning to school.

• If students or staff continue to test positive for COVID-19 after day 5, they must isolate for the full 10 days.

• Schools are no longer required to directly notify high risk students and staff of exposure but must continue to have a process in place to inform students, staff, and families when there are cases or outbreaks in school.

• The “test to stay” program is no longer a part of the recommendation section; however, testing protocols remain an important tool to ensure safe in-person learning.

• Schools are required to respond to outbreaks. All suspected outbreaks (3 or more cases within a specified core group) must be reported to your local health jurisdiction.

  DOH continues to encourage schools to work with their local health jurisdictions to support COVID-19 mitigation strategies. DOH recognizes the great effort of staff and students to follow COVID-19 guidance and keep our school community safe for in-person learning.

Families are encouraged to vaccinate their children who are eligible in consultation with their health care provider. COVID-19 vaccination is now available to children 6 months and older. All employees and volunteers in educational settings are required to be fully vaccinated or have obtained a medical or religious exemption per Governor’s proclamation 21-14.3.

You can access the updated COVID-19 school and childcare guidance on the DOH website located on the Resources and Recommendations page in the School and Childcare section.

If you have any questions, please contact the COVID-19 information hotline by dialing 1-800-525-0127, then press # or email your questions to DOH.Information@DOH.WA.GOV.

To request this document in another format, call 1-800-525-0127. Deaf or hard of hearing customers, please call 711 (Washington Relay) or email civil.rights@doh.wa.gov. DOH 825-058 Aug 2022

EMPLOYEE RIGHTS

If you have additional questions, please direct them to your site Administrator, Department Manager or the Human Resources Department.

You have the right to:

• Raise a safety or health concern with your employer or L & I - DOSH, request personal protective equipment, or report a work-related hazard, including COVID-19.

• Receive information and training on job hazards in your workplace.

Submitting a safety hazard concern to L & I -DOSH or call 1-800-423-7233