Current Health Office COVID-19 Protocols and Information

Reminder: Please call or email the school nurse if any individual tests positive for COVID-19 so that a return to school plan can be discussed. Lisa Zick can be reached at 978-772-3293 x135 or [email protected].

Please refer to the following guidelines when an individual experiences illness.

Below is the full list of COVID-19 symptoms to monitor for (even if mild):

• Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills or shaking chills
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• New loss of taste or smell
• Muscle aches or body aches
• Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
• Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms
• Headache when in combination with other symptoms
• Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
• Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms

Symptomatic Individuals

NO FEVER and MILD SYMPTOMS:  Individuals who don't have fever, present with mild symptoms, and test negative for COVID-19 are okay to come to school. Best practice includes wearing a mask until symptoms are fully recovered. A second test is recommended within 48 hours if the initial test was negative.

FEVER and/or SYMPTOMS LISTED ABOVE: Individuals who have fever 100.0 or higher and/or symptoms listed above should test for COVID-19. If the test is negative, they should stay home until fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication AND symptoms are improving. They should also test again for COVID-19 at least 48 hours after the initial negative test. 

COVID-19 POSITIVE - Individuals who test positive for COVID-19

• Inform Nurse Lisa at 978-772-3293 x135 or [email protected]
• Self-isolation for a minimum of 5 days after symptom onset or after a positive test, if asymptomatic
• Return to school on day 6 if they are fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication AND have improving symptoms
• Upon returning to school, the individual must wear a mask when around others for an additional 5 days OR if they have a negative rapid test on day 5 or later, they are not required to wear a mask
• Testing to return to school is NOT required

Isolation

To count days for isolation, day 0 is the first day of symptoms OR the day the positive test was taken, whichever is earliest. Those who test positive must isolate for at least 5 days. If they are asymptomatic or symptoms are improving and they have been fever-free without the use of fever-reducing mediation for 24 hours, they may return to school on Day 6 and should wear a mask through Day 10, unless they test negative on day 5 or later.

COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test Kits

Symptomatic testing is no longer being offered at Parker, but rapid antigen test kits are free to our students, staff, and families. Please reach out to Nurse Lisa at [email protected] if you need COVID-19 tests. 

Individuals who are symptomatic should be sent home and tested for COVID-19 at home. They can return to school if their symptoms remain mild, they test negative, have been fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, or if a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis.

Revised 2/2/2024.

Influenza (Flu)

It’s not too late to get your flu shot if you haven’t already done so. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a yearly flu vaccine is the first and most important step in protecting against the flu. Even if someone does get sick with the flu after being vaccinated, the data suggests that their illness may be milder - CDC Influenza (Flu)

When to Seek Emergency Medical Care for Someone Who Has the Flu

• Difficulty breathing or chest pain
• Purple or blue discoloration of the lips
• Vomiting and unable to keep liquids down 
• Signs of dehydration such as not urinating or dizziness when standing
• Seizures
• Is less responsive than normal or becomes confused