COVID-19 Guidance for Families (Grades K–12)

Begin with scenario 1, 2, 3, or 4 and follow the arrows, answering the questions for your child’s situation.

1 2
My child feels sick My child tested positive
Tell the school and keep your child home. for COVID-19
Do you have a home test kit from your school?
Tell the school.
Your child must stay home and isolate
for the next 5 days.

YES NO

It’s the evening of Day 5.

Take the frst
test immediately I am not Does your child have symptoms of
and take the Get your child COVID-19?
testing my
second test 24 tested.
child. Symptoms include a fever of 100.0 degrees F
hours later.
or higher, a cough, sore throat, loss of taste or
smell or shortness of breath.

Tell the
BOTH tests are NEGATIVE (-) school.
NEGATIVE (-) Your child may Your child
your child may return to school must stay
return to school if symptom free home for the
when symptom OR only has mild next 5 days.
free OR only has symptoms. If using Your child YES NO
mild symptoms.* a home rapid test may return
Symptoms must kit, take the frst to school
be improving. test immediately on Day 6
and take the if symptoms
second test 24 have Your child
hours later. improved. should continue Your child may
OR to stay home until return to school
symptoms have tomorrow (Day 6).
improved AND Please ensure your
OR your child may child is wearing a
EITHER test is return to school if well-ftting mask at
POSITIVE (+) they are fever-free school.
tell the school. for the past 24
Your child must POSITIVE (+) hours without the
stay home and Tell the school. use of medicine
isolate for the next Your child must OR have isolated
5 days. Your child stay home and for a full 10 days.
may return to isolate for the next
school on Day 6 5 days. Your child
if symptoms may return to
have improved. school on Day 6
if symptoms
have improved.

NOTE: If your child is returning to school on Day 6 after

*Mild symptoms include being fever-free for 24 hours without the use of
medication and/or having a minimal a cough.
NOTE: If your child is returning to school on Day 6 after completing
isolation, your child must be able to wear a well-ftting mask while
at school, through Day 10.
completing isolation, your child must be able to wear a
well-ftting mask while at school, through Day 10.
NOTE: If your child has recovered from a confrmed case
of COVID-19 in the past 90 days, you can disregard the
positive test result. Your child can continue to attend
school unless symptomatic.

Page 1 of 2 | Last updated 1/25/22. Visit schools.nyc.gov/coronavirus for the most up-to-date information.
 COVID-19 Guidance for Families (Grades K–12)
Begin with scenario 1, 2, 3, or 4 and follow the arrows, answering the questions for your child’s situation.

3 4
My child was exposed to
COVID-19 at school My child was exposed to COVID-19
outside of school activity
Do you have a home test kit from your school?
(by a family member, at a birthday party, during
soccer practice, at a house of worship, etc.)

YES NO

Is your child considered fully

Take the frst test
vaccinated?*
on the day you
receive the test kit. Ask your child’s
school for a
rapid home test
kit and follow
the steps for
POSITIVE (+) YES.
YES NO
NEGATIVE
Tell the school.
(-) Your child
Your child must
may return to
isolate for the
school the next
next 5 days. Your
day, UNLESS
child may return to
symptomatic.
school on Day 6.
Your child may Tell the school. Your
return to school the child must stay home
next day, UNLESS and quarantine for
Does your child have symptoms of COVID-19? symptomatic. Please the next 5 days. Your
Symptoms include a fever of 100.0 degrees F or higher, a watch your child child may return to
cough, sore throat, loss of taste or smell or shortness of for symptoms. Your school on Day 6 if
breath. child does not need symptom free. Please
to use a home test watch your child for
kit or get tested for symptoms.
COVID-19.

YES NO

Take the second test Take the second test

immediately. 5 days later.

NEGATIVE (-) Your NEGATIVE (-) Your

child may return to child may return to
school the next day, school the next day,
UNLESS symptomatic. UNLESS symptomatic.

NOTE: If your child has recovered from a confrmed case

POSITIVE (+) Tell the POSITIVE (+) Tell the of COVID-19 in the past 90 days, your child does not need
school. Your child must school. Your child must to quarantine (regardless of vaccine status). Your child
isolate for the next 5 days. isolate for the next 5 days. can continue to attend school unless symptomatic.
Your child may return to Your child may return to
school on Day 6. school on Day 6. NOTE: If your child is unvaccinated and exposed to
COVID-19 by someone who lives in your house, your child
should continue to quarantine for an additional fve days
NOTE: If your child has recovered from a confrmed case of COVID-19 after a household member’s isolation period has ended, if
in the past 90 days, you do not need a home test kit. Your child can the positive household member and student are staying in
continue to attend school unless symptomatic. the same home during that time.
NOTE: If your child is returning to school on Day 6 after completing
isolation, your child must be able to wear a well-ftting mask while *“Fully vaccinated” means that 2 weeks have passed since
at school, through Day 10. the fnal shot of a two-dose series or a one dose vaccine.

Page 2 of 2 | Last updated 1/25/22. Visit schools.nyc.gov/coronavirus for the most up-to-date information.