Covid-19 Decision Aid

Our School Nurse, Miriam Kotek, serves as the main point of contact for Covid related matters. She can be reached at kotekm@mjbha.org or 301-962-9400 x711. 

Anyone with Covid symptoms with or without a known exposure must stay home. Symptoms include: At least one of the following: fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, new onset cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or new loss of taste or sense of smell, OR at least two of the following: chills, muscle aches, sore throat, headache, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, and congestion or runny nose. For those with chronic conditions, any symptoms that are  a significant change from normal baseline should prompt a student to stay at home. Anyone with a known or suspected Covid exposure, regardless of vaccination status, must contact Nurse Miriam Kotek before returning to school.

In January 2022, we updated our quarantine decisions based on the latest guidance from the CDC and Maryland Department of Health. Please see below for updated scenarios.

Exclusion Scenarios

Staff members and vaccinated and unvaccinated students who test positive for Covid-19 can return to school, provided they:

  • Are asymptomatic and 5 days post positive test, or are 5 days after symptom onset + 24 hours symptom free;
  • Present a negative rapid test from the end of day 5 from when symptoms began, or, if asymptomatic, day 5 from positive test result;
  • Continue to wear a well-fitting surgical mask, N95, KN95, or double mask (surgical mask with a cloth mask on top) at all times for 5 additional days upon return; 
  • Eat in a designated space for 5 additional days upon return. 

Students or staff members with a non-household exposure and are currently asymptomatic may continue attending school in person under a 10-day “mask to stay/modified quarantine” where they will be required to wear a mask at all times during this 10-day period. We will also have designated eating areas for impacted students and staff members.

Students or staff members with a household exposure will follow the below guidelines:

Students/Staff – Asymptomatic 
Vaccinated students/staff may return to school in person under a 10-day “mask to stay/modified quarantine” provided:

  • Positive household member has isolated, or exposed individual is no longer actively exposed to Covid positive person; 
  • The exposed student/staff presents a negative PCR or rapid before returning to school;
  • The exposed student/staff member remains asymptomatic;
  • The exposed student/staff member presents a negative PCR or rapid test on day 5 after exposure;
  • The exposed student/staff member wears a mask at all times and eats in designated areas during the 10-day period.

Unvaccinated students/staff may return to school after five days provided:

  • Positive household member has isolated, or exposed individual is no longer actively exposed to Covid positive person; 
  • The exposed student/staff presents a negative PCR or rapid before returning to school;
  • The exposed student/staff member remains asymptomatic;
  • The exposed student/staff member presents a negative PCR or rapid test on day 5 after exposure;
  • The exposed student/staff member wears a mask at all times and eats in designated areas during the 10-day period.

Students or staff members with a household exposure will follow the below guidelines:

Students/Staff – Asymptomatic 
Vaccinated exposed students/staff can return to school 5 days after positive test provided: 

  • The exposed student/staff remains asymptomatic; 
  • The exposed student/staff presents a negative PCR or rapid test taken no earlier than the end of day 5;
  • The exposed student/staff wears a mask at all times and eats in designated areas during the remainder of the 10-day period. 

Unvaccinated exposed students/staff must stay home for 10 days.