Covid-19 Updates for the 2022/23 School Year
Covid-19 Updates for the 2022/23 School Year
If your student has has a symptom or symptoms of COVID-19:
- Keep your student home from school
- Notify your teacher and attendance line: sacajawea.attendance@seattleschools.org
- Isolate at home and test for Covid-19 – Home Rapid Antigen Tests are available in the office. Testing is now available at school with a parent’s consent. You may give consent at CIC Health.
Guidance can be found here:
Washington State Department of Health Flowchart
Washington State Department of Health Flowchart in Spanish
SPS COVID Updates:
WA State DOH COVID-19 Isolation Guidance
Isolation and Return to School Guidance
*DOH is revising the flowcharts to align with updated guidance.
Any student or staff who tests positive for COVID-19 is required to isolate at home for five full days regardless of vaccination status.
If you test positive for COVID-19 but do not have symptoms:
- Isolate for at least five days after testing positive for COVID-19. If you have symptoms, day 0 is your first day of symptoms. Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed. If you have not had any symptoms, day 0 is your positive viral test date (the date you were tested). Day 1 is the first full day after the specimen was collected for your positive test.
- You can leave isolation after five full days if you have not developed any symptoms. Repeating the test does not change the requirement to isolate for five full days.
If you develop symptoms after testing positive:
- Your five-day isolation should start over. Follow the isolation recommendations below for individuals who have symptoms.
If you test positive for COVID-19 and develop symptoms:
- Individuals may return from isolation after five full days have passed since symptoms appeared if:
- No fever within the past 24 hours (without medication) AND
- Symptoms have significantly improved
COVID-19 antigen tests are encouraged before returning from isolation. Only start testing if you are fever free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved.
- Anyone returning to school or work after isolation should wear a well-fitted mask from day six to 10. These individuals should also remain masked for sports and other extracurricular activities.
- If an individual tests positive after five days of isolation, they must stay at home for the full 10-day isolation period unless they test negative on two sequential tests each performed 24-48 hours apart. If they test negative on the two sequential tests, they can end isolation before day 10.
- If an individual is unable to wear a well-fitting mask, they should continue to isolate for the full 10 days.
Individuals who have been infected with COVID-19 within the past 90 days should use an antigen test, as PCR tests may remain persistently positive even if there is no new or active infection.
COVID-19 Exposure
Regardless of vaccination status, housemates or family members who were potentially exposed to COVID-19 are encouraged to:
- Monitor for symptoms and get tested for COVID-19 three to five days after your last exposure.
- Wear a high-quality mask or respirator around others at home and in public for 10 days after your last exposure. Continue to wear a mask even if you test negative for COVID-19.
If you test positive:
- Isolate and follow SPS isolation, masking, and return to school guidance
If you test negative by an antigen test:
- Retest with an antigen test 24-48 hours after the first negative test. If the second test is negative, but concerns exist for COVID-19, you may retest 24-48 hours after the second negative test, for a total of at least three tests.