COVID Health/Safety
COVID-19 2023-24 School year
Does the end of the public health emergency mean COVID-19 is over?
No. COVID-19 cases are down sharply, but the end of the emergency declarations does not mean the virus is no longer a threat. The virus remains a leading cause of death in the United States, with about 250 daily deaths on average. Visit the CDC’s website, the WA Department of Health, and the Snohomish Health Department for information about local infection rates.
CDC continues to advise that everyone stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, use at-home tests if they’ve been exposed or have symptoms, stay home if they’re sick, and wear a high-quality mask when COVID-19 levels are high. These precautions are the best ways to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Will schools still provide COVID-19 testing?
Edmonds School District will continue to provide take-home tests for students and staff as long as supplies last.
It is essential that students, staff and families continue to stay home when sick
Stay home when sick
Because students can be sick for many reasons other than COVID-19, such as the flu and RSV, we still expect families to keep their students home if they are sick. If your student has any of the symptoms below, please keep them home until they subside.
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APPEARANCE, FATIGUE BEHAVIOR – Unusually tired, pale, lack of appetite, difficult to wake, confused or irritable
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MUSCLE OR BODY ACHES
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EYES – White or yellow drainage, vision change, and/or redness of the eyelid or skin around the eye, itchiness, pain or sensitivity to light
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FEVER OR CHILLS – Temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Student/staff member must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school/work
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PERSISTENT NASAL DRAINAGE AND/OR A CONSISTENT COUGH
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NEW SYMPTOMS OF SHORTNESS OF BREATH OR DIFFICULTY BREATHING
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SORE THROAT
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DIARRHEA – Watery stools within the last 24 hours
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NAUSEA OR VOMITING – Vomiting within the past 24 hours
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RASH – Body rash, especially with fever or itching
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OR ANY OTHER COVID-LIKE SYMPTOMS
It is not unusual for student to feel great in the morning and then worse as the day goes by. School are not equipped for prolonged care of your sick student. We require that you or an emergency contact will pick up your sick child within the hour that you are called. Please notify your school of any changes to your emergency contacts, it is important to have a list of available contacts if we are not able to reach you.
Thank you for helping us keep our schools safe and healthy.
| Situations | K-12 Students | All Staff | Early Learning Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms in building |
Recommend:
Symptomatic people who cannot wear a mask should be separated from others as much as possible. |
Per L&I:
Symptomatic people who cannot wear a mask should be separated from others as much as possible. Recommend:
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Required:
Recommend:
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| Positive COVID-19 test with symptoms | Recommend:
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Per L&I:*
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Recommend:
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| Positive COVID-19 test without symptoms | Recommend:
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Per L&I:*
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Recommend:
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What to do if a student/staff member is showing signs of COVID-19 symptoms?
Regardless of vaccination status, staff and students should not come to school/work if they are experiencing any symptoms associated with COVID-19. They should get tested and/or see a health care provider and follow flow chart below from the Department of Health.
Click here to review the flow chart
If anyone shows COVID-19 symptoms at school or work, they must mask up, immediately isolate, be sent home and are encouraged to take a COVID-19 test.
If a student member tests positive for COVID-19, when can they return to school?
Students who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home and isolate from others for at least 5-days following both the onset of symptoms and/or the COVID-19 positive test.
Upon return a student member should follow the below:
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Wear a well fitting mask or face shield with a drape during day 6-10 of the isolation period
*If a staff member tests positive for COVID-19, when can they return to school?
Note: Need to adhere to L&I guidance
Keeping individuals out of the workplace is the most effective approach to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. The employer is required to implement controls to mitigate the hazard such as establishing a full respiratory protection program, masking (of contagious individuals), physical distancing, barriers, ventilation or other effective controls.
Individuals should be excluded from common shared workspaces during days 0-5 after symptom onset or positive test. For days 6-10 they following symptom onset or positive test, continuing exclusion from common workspaces but if that is not possible ensuring that the contagious individual wears a mask and testing on day 6-10 can be a means for mitigating the COVID-10 transmission hazard, when done according to WA State DOH guidelines.
Staff who test positive for COVID-19 are required to inform their immediate supervisor and should stay home and isolate from others for at least 5 days following both the onset of symptom and/or the COVID-19 positive test.
Wear a well-fitting and high-quality mask or respirator around others at home and in public for at least 5 additional days (day 6-10) after the end of your 5-day isolation period.
Staff need to adhere to the following guidance:
What to do if you test positive for COVID-19 from WA DOH
Masks are available at all schools and district buildings
Schools and district buildings will continue to stock and provide masks for students, staff, volunteers and visitors who choose to wear one.
We will notify the school staff and families of identified outbreaks.
COVID-19 tests available at schools and district office
We will continue to offer take-home COVID-19 testing at our schools and our central office at the Educational Service Center, 20420 68th Ave. W, Lynnwood.