March 10, 2024
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The CDC recently updated the recommendations and guidelines for respiratory viruses, which now includes COVID-19. Additionally, the CDC is no longer advising of a 5-day quarantine period for COVID-19. As such, our school nurses are no longer able to cover any undocumented absences related to this illness beyond what is permitted in the school code.
Parents/guardians no longer need to reference the symptom screening tool associated with COVID-19. If you have a respiratory virus you can return to school/work if your symptoms are getting better overall, and you have not had a fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
As a friendly reminder as per school code, parents/guardians are permitted to write ten (10) excuses for absences per school year for their school-aged child. After this threshold, parents/guardians must obtain a doctor’s only note for absences beyond ten (10) days in a school year for the absence to be excused.
Please see the link below for CDC Guidelines for Preventing Spread of Respiratory Viruses When You’re Sick: https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/precautions-when-sick.html
Please contact your child’s school office or school nurse should you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Derry Area School District Administration