From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Paul’s School has used the guidelines put forth by the Centers for Disease Control to help formulate our COVID isolation protocols. The CDC recently announced upcoming changes to its protocols, which SPS likewise adopts, as follows:
- For those who have mild COVID-19 symptoms, we no longer require five days of isolation, but instead move to a more symptom-based approach to keeping our community healthy that mirrors the process we currently follow for influenza and other contagious illnesses.
- If an individual has mild symptoms and has been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, they are not required to remain in isolation.
- We continue to recommend good hygiene practices that include hand washing or sanitizing, covering coughs and masking for individuals who have a cough.
- We also continue to recommend influenza and COVID-19 vaccines annually as they become available.
After four years, COVID-19 has circulated around the globe, and scientists predict that most people have some level of immunity from either the vaccine or exposure. Those community members or visitors who are at the highest risk of serious illness based on age, chronic illness and/or smoking habits should continue to protect themselves in the way that is appropriate for them.
Updated as of March 12, 2024