A revised 2022-23 School Year FAQ document based on the CDC's COVID-19 Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools to Support Safe In-Person Learning is now available on the NYSDOH COVID-19 Schools and Youth webpage:

https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/schools-youth#guidance-for-schools

When to send a child to school: Sometimes it can be difficult for a parent to decide whether to send a child to school when they wake up with early symptoms of an illness or complaints that they do not feel well. In many cases, the illness is not significant, and the child will do just fine with a supply of tissues, reassurance, and a little encouragement to try to get out of bed and get going. However, there are some conditions when it is best to plan on keeping your child home for the day to rest and recuperate or to arrange for an appointment with your health care provider. The following are a few such suggestions:

• Fever greater than 100.0 orally
• Child is too sleepy or ill to profit from sitting in classes all day
• Significant cough that would make a child feel uncomfortable or disrupt the class
• Sore throat that is severe, accompanied by a fever/significant malaise, that persists longer than 48 hours, or after known exposure to strep throat
• Honey crusted sores around the nose or mouth that might be impetigo or a rash in various stages including boils, sores, and bumps associated with chicken pox, or a significant rash accompanied by other symptoms of illness
• Red, runny eyes until cleared as non-contagious by a physician
• Copious green nasal discharge, especially if accompanied by sinus pain or headache
• Severe ear pain or drainage from the ear that needs to be evaluated by a physician
• Any condition that you think or know is contagious
• Children who have an upset stomach should be kept home

If you send your child to school uncertain that there is significant illness as described above, it is a good idea to give the nurse a call to alert her to your concerns and to provide her with numbers where you can be reached that day should your child become more ill and require early dismissal.