AP – When schools re-open for the new term, the focus is on improving student attendance.
But back-to-school is hitting just as COVID-19 cases are increasing in some parts of the world, raising the question: When is a child too sick for school?
School absences surged during the pandemic and have yet to recover. Nearly one in four students remains chronically absent, defined as missing 10 per cent or more of the academic year, according to the latest data analysed by The Associated Press.
One reason for continued high absences: After years of COVID-19 quarantines, parents are more cautious about sending children to school when they might be contagious with an illness.
When a child misses school, even for an excused absence like a sick day, it’s harder for them to stay on track academically. So schools and health experts are trying to change the culture around sick days. Here’s what they want parents to know.
COVID GUIDELINES HAVE CHANGED
During the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged people who tested positive for COVID-19 to isolate at home for a set number of days and to quarantine after exposure to the coronavirus. In some settings, people with any mild illness were urged to remain home until symptoms were clear.
Those standards, and the caution behind them, remained for years after schools re-opened to in-person instruction. That meant children often missed large portions of school after contracting or being exposed to COVID-19 or other illnesses.
COVID-19 guidance have officially changed. Now, the CDC suggests people treat COVID-19 like other respiratory illnesses, such as the flu and RSV.
FEVER-FREE FOR 24 HOURS
If a child has a fever, they should stay home, no matter the illness. A child can return to school when their fever has been gone for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. Other symptoms should be improving.
WHAT ABOUT OTHER SYMPTOMS?
If a child doesn’t have a fever, it’s OK to send them to class with some signs of illness, including a runny nose, headache or cough, according to schools and the American Academy of Pediatrics. If those symptoms aren’t improving or are severe, such as a hacking cough, call your child’s doctor.
The guidance around vomiting and diarrhoea varies across school districts.
Generally, students should remain home until symptoms stop, according to American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. Older children may be able to manage mild diarrhoea at school.
“Unless your student has a fever or threw up in the last 24 hours, you are coming to school. That’s what we want,” said director of student support services Abigail Arii in Oakland, California.
Guidance from the Los Angeles Unified School District says students can attend school with mild symptoms such as a runny nose or cold, but should stay home if they have vomiting, diarrhoea, severe pain or a fever of 37 degrees Celsius or higher.
WHEN TO WEAR A MASK
The CDC says people should take additional precautions for five days after returning to school or other normal activities.
Masks and social distancing are no longer mandated but are encouraged to prevent disease spread. Experts also recommend plenty of handwashing and taking steps for cleaner air, such as opening a window or running an air purifier.
Parents should also keep up-to-date on all health examinations and immunisations for students so they don’t miss additional days of school. – Cheyanne Mumphrey
