COVID-19 FAQ
As we work together to navigate these unprecedented times, we have put this “Frequently Asked Questions,” resource together for you in an effort to provide you with the most up-to-date guidance. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s building nurse with any additional questions you may have. Following the KLSD COVID-19 Guidance for Families will allow all of us to do our part in keeping our students, faculty, staff, and community safe.
Thank you for your help.
KLSD Nurses:
- Lisa Kopf (IMES) (914)-763-7139
- Sallyann Rozsa (KES) (914)-763-7706
- Elizabeth Marcoux (MPES) (914)-763-7907
- Cynthia Mallon and Julia Fitzgerald (JJHS) (914)-763-7205
- Mary Mullaney and Ellen Pappas (JJMS) (914)-763-7508
Information sourced by; Dr. Lewis A. Corsaro MD, FAAP; the CDC and the NYSDOH “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 Sept. 2020, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html
Q. What should I do if my child is diagnosed with COVID-19 on the weekend?
A. Please send an email as soon as possible to your student's principal notifying them of the specifics.
- Increase Miller Elementary School, Principal Kerry Ford, kford@klschools.org
- Katonah Elementary School, Principal Cristy Harris, charris@klschools.org
- Meadow Pond Elementary School, Principal Carolann Castellano, ccastellano@klschools.org
- John Jay High School, Principal Dr. Steven Siciliano, ssiciliano@klschools.org
- John Jay Middle School, Principal Jeff Swiatowitz, jswiatowicz@klschools.org
Q: My child has one symptom. Should I keep them home? When can they return to school?
A: If your child has a single symptom (and that symptom is not one of the primary indicators of COVID-19 – i.e. fever, new cough, respiratory distress, or loss of taste or smell) lasting less than 24 hours, your child is required to stay home on the first day the symptom presents and for an additional 24 hours symptom-free. Your child can return to school on the 3rd day without the need for a physician's note. Siblings would be permitted to continue in-person instruction if they remained asymptomatic. Please alert the school as to why you are keeping your child home by completing the daily health screener. If the one symptom is one of those primary indicators (fever, new cough, respiratory distress, or loss of taste or smell), a physician’s note will be required for the child to return to school. If the one symptom (regardless of what symptom it is) lasts more than 24 hours, a physician’s note will be required for the child to return to school. In these cases, siblings should remain home until the symptomatic sibling has been cleared by a physician.
Q: My child has more than one symptom of COVID-19. When can they return to school, and what are the criteria?
A: If your child has multiple symptoms of COVID-19 or one symptom lasting more than 24 hours, your child must be seen by a physician, and a note allowing your child to return must be sent to the health office prior to return. If your physician recommends a COVID-19 test, a negative PCR test would allow your child to return to school (without a supporting note from the physician). A negative rapid test, however, would require a supporting note from the physician in order to allow the child to return to school (see question below). Siblings should remain at home until the symptomatic sibling receives a negative PCR test or is cleared by a physician.
Click the link for the CDC Symptoms of COVID-19
Q: Which COVID-19 test results are acceptable?
A: NYSDOH has notified all health professionals that an Antigen test (Rapid test) which is positive is reliable evidence of the presence of COVID-19. A negative Antigen test (Rapid test), however, is less reliable and must be supported by a negative PCR test to rule/out positivity.
Q: When am I considered a close contact?
A: For COVID-19, a close contact is anyone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 10 minutes. An infected person can spread COVID-19 starting 48 hours (or two days) before the person has any symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19.
Q: What if I am wearing a mask when I was around someone diagnosed with COVID-19? Am I a contact?
A: Yes, you are still considered a close contact even if you were wearing a mask while you were around someone with COVID-19. Masks are meant to protect other people if you are infected and not to protect you from becoming infected.
Q: I was in close contact. Do I need to get tested, do I have to quarantine, and if my results are negative, do I have to remain in quarantine?
A: If you have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, you should be tested, even if you do not have symptoms of COVID-19. The health department may be able to provide resources for testing in your area.
- If your test is positive, you should continue to stay home and self-isolate away from others and monitor your health. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, and they worsen or become severe, you should seek emergency medical care.
- If your test is negative and you don’t have symptoms, you must continue to stay home and self-quarantine away from others for 14 days after your last exposure to COVID-19 and follow all recommendations from the health department. This is important because symptoms can appear up to 14 days after being exposed and infected.
Q: What if I have been around someone who is not positive but was in close contact with someone who is?
A: If you have been around someone who was identified as a close contact to a person with COVID-19, closely monitor yourself for any symptoms of COVID-19. You do not need to self-quarantine unless you develop symptoms or if the person identified as a close contact develops COVID-19.
Q: Myself or someone in our household is getting tested for COVID-19. Can my student still attend school?
A: If your student was not a close contact with someone diagnosed positive for COVID-19, and they do not have any symptoms, they can still come to school. If the household member comes back positive and your student was in contact with them, then they are not permitted to return to school the following day and will be asked to be picked up if the tests come back while they are at school. This then means they are a close contact and must quarantine 14 days as explained above.
Q: We are traveling, upon return does my student have to quarantine?
A: Yes, if you are traveling to a restricted destination then a 14-day quarantine is required.
Refer to this advisory from the NYSDOH: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory