Schuyler Central High School is taking the threat of Covid-19 very seriously. Different Covid symptoms have different severities. A list of criteria must be met before a suspected Covid-19 carrier will be dismissed from or readmitted to school. 

The first signs of a Covid-19 infected student can be a variety of symptoms. Different symptoms or combinations determine if the student will be sent home. A student or staff must have two of the following to be sent home: chills, rigors, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea. If they have a new fever, cough, have trouble breathing, are short of breath, or lose their sense of taste or smell then the student or staff member will be sent home with only one symptom. Additionally, having one family member who is quarantined or tested positive is also grounds for an early dismissal. Cori Vavricek, the school nurse at Schuyler Central High School, said “Students that meet the requirements to be dismissed, must be sent home as soon as possible”. 

The readmission process to get back into the school largely depends on if the student or staff member went to the doctor to get tested for Covid-19. If they were tested and the results were negative, the student or staff member would wait 24 hours after their fever dissipates or their symptoms decrease. The student or staff member has more requirements if they test positive for Covid-19. They cannot return to school until at least ten days have passed since their symptoms started. They also have to wait a full day after their fever breaks and for their symptoms to decrease. If a student or staff member tests positive without any symptoms, then they must wait ten days after the test to return to the school as long as no symptoms develop. 

Covid-19 tests are not a requirement to be allowed back on to the premises. If a student or staff member is discharged from the school due to their symptoms, and they are not tested, then there is a ten day minimum waiting period. “The other option is to be excluded from school for 10 days from the onset of symptoms and be fever free for 24 hours and have had symptom improvement,” said Mrs. Vavricek. A doctor may also provide a different diagnosis to clear the patient of a possible case of Covid. 

The dismissal and readmittance of students or staff depends on the symptoms and whether or not a Covid-19 test was performed. SCHS is following these guidelines set by East Central District Health Department to ensure the safety of staff and students.