Question: Is isolation still mandatory for a staff member or student who tests positive for COVD-19?
Answer: Yes. Staff members and students who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home and isolate for five days.
For those with symptoms Day 1 is the first full day after symptom onset (Day 0 is the day of symptom onset). For those that had no symptoms Day 0 is the day they were tested (not the day you received your positive test result) and Day 1 is the first full day following the day they were tested—if someone re-develops symptoms within the 10 days of testing the clock restarts at day 0 on the day of symptom onset.
Those with symptoms may resume attending school after the 5 days if:
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They are fever free without fever reducing medicine for 24 hours and their symptoms are improving; and
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They wear a mask through day 10 (day 1 is the first full day following the day they received positive test result regardless of symptom onset).
After having ended isolation, if COVID-19 symptoms recur or worsen, restart isolation at day 0. Day 0 of isolation is the day of symptom onset. Staff and student’s parents/guardians should be advised to talk to a healthcare provider about their symptoms or when to end isolation.
Question: Does staff have to report positive COVID test results to their supervisor?
Answer: Yes. The NYS Paid Leave Law is still in effect with no expiration date. A staff member who has a positive COVID-19 test must stay at home for at least five days and is paid COVID-19 pay during the time of isolation (remember the law allows paid leave for only three times a staff member tests positive for COVID-19.) Of course, the staff member is not paid for days not regularly scheduled to work if that time falls within the isolation period. For example, A Monday through Friday worker has symptoms of COVID-19 on Thursday. Day 0 is Thursday. The staff member has five days of isolation starting Friday and ending Tuesday. They can return to work on Wednesday. They are not paid Saturday and Sunday and are therefore not entitled to COVID-19 leave pay for Saturday and Sunday.