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What's the difference?

      When Sick or Positive for COVID-19

      • When You're Sick or COVID-19 Positive
         
        On March 1, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated the COVID-19 guidelines to better align with other respiratory illnesses. The following guidelines apply to COVID-19, flu, and RSV. Please read our guidelines for keeping children home from school due to illness for more information: https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/Page/68786. 
         
        When you have a respiratory illness like COVID-19...
        • Stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick) if you have respiratory virus symptoms that another cause cannot explain. These symptoms include fever, chills, fatigue, a cough, a runny nose, and a headache. 
        • You may return to school/work or other normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, 
          • Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
          • You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).             

        Individuals should exercise caution for the 5 days after returning to normal activities. This includes practicing proper hygiene, wearing well-fitted masks, and maintaining physical distance, especially around immunocompromised individuals.

        **If an individual experiences a fever or worsening of symptoms after resuming normal activities, they should stay home and avoid contact with others until the above conditions are met. 

        If you never had symptoms but tested positive:

        • Stay home for at least 24 hours from your positive test, if you do not develop symptoms. If you develop symptoms, follow the guidance above. For the next 5 days: take added precaution, such as masking, physical distancing, and monitoring for symptoms.

        Students and staff should continue to self-report their COVID-19 diagnosis. 

        Examples: Please review the following examples to learn when to return to normal activities safely. CDC published these examples, and can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/precautions-when-sick.html

        1. Example 1: Person with fever and other symptoms

        Example 1: Person with fever and symptoms.

        1. Example 2: Person with fever but no other symptoms

        Example 2: Person with fever but no other symptoms.

        1. Example 3: Person with fever and other symptoms, fever ends but other symptoms take longer to improve.
           

        Example 3: Person with fever and other symptoms, fever ends but other symptoms take longer to improve.

        1. Example 4: Person gets better and then gets a fever. 

        Example 4: Person gets better and then gets a fever.

      When Exposed to COVID-19

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        When You're Exposed to COVID-19

        People who are in close contact with someone with COVID-19 do not need to stay home if they remain without symptoms. However, they should take precautions after their exposure, regardless of vaccination status or previous infection.  

        After being notified of exposure 

        • Monitor for symptoms and get tested for COVID-19.

        • If you develop symptoms or test positive, stay home until you've seen symptom improvement and no fever (without fever-reducing medication) for at least 24 hours. 

        • If you do not develop symptoms but test positive, stay home for at least 24 hours from your positive test and monitor for symptoms.

          • Submit an APS Self-Report if you test positive using one of the links below:  

         

        *A parent or guardian of a child enrolled at APS may elect for his or her child to be exempt from any mask requirements and may do so without providing a reason or any certification of the child's health or education status.  In addition, no student shall suffer any adverse disciplinary or academic consequences as a result of such election by the parent or guardian.