Concord School District Releases 2022-2023 Coronavirus, Flu Procedures

CONCORD, NH — School starts on Wednesday and Thursday for students in the Concord School District, and officials have released new guidelines and procedures for the flu and coronavirus.

Officials recommend students and staffers who test positive for either COVID-19 or the flu to stay home. Masks throughout the district are optional unless testing positive and returning to school five days after being sick. Anyone with symptoms should take a test to determine if they are infected.

Coronavirus and flu symptoms include fever, chills, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle/body aches, headache, a new loss of taste and/or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.

Students who become symptomatic while at school may be sent home with tests or be required to wear a mask. A parent or guardian should call the school later with test results. Staffers will notify their school principal if they have a positive test.

Tests may be applicable based on community case numbers from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

Officials said parents and staffers should remember symptomatic students or educators may initially test negative; people are at their most infectious in the first five days and may need to take a second test the next day.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends isolation for people testing positive in the following manner: Day Zero is the day of a positive test or symptoms; wear a mask at home to protect others; stay home for at least five days; return to school on Day 6 if no symptoms or fever-free for 24 hours with medication; continue to wear a mask through Day 10.

The district will not be using surveillance testing for asymptomatic students or staffers. Since coronavirus and flu are very similar, consider testing for both.

The district is encouraging anyone with COPD, respiratory issues, or other chronic conditions to get flu and coronavirus shots and boosters. If accessing flu shots, they should be taken in October and November.

The district will also be emphasizing “healthy habits” during the school year — including encouraging students and educators to cough-sneeze into their elbows, singing the ABC song while washing hands, and using sanitizer. Physical distances should be maintained when possible, and windows should be open in classrooms for air exchange. Events should also be held outside, if possible, while students and staffers should consider eating snacks and lunch outside. Surfaces everywhere in schools should be cleaned once a day.

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