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Those who are identified as known contacts at school or at home may continue to go to school as long as they remain asymptomatic.
Individuals who test positive must isolate for at least 5 days.
Symptomatic students who test negative in the health suite may stay in school, masked.
Browse below to find more detail about changes to isolation requirements for students who have COVID and unvaccinated contacts who may be infected. Can’t find the answer to your specific question? Email healthandsafety@bcps.k12.md.us.
Yes. The Maryland Department of Health recently shared new guidance on modified isolation policies for schools. City Schools takes many steps that minimize the spread of infection and align with the state’s updated guidance. This includes widespread use of rapid antigen tests, along with masking, air filtration, and vaccine availability for students age 6 months and up.
Reducing the length of isolation means students miss fewer days of school and can focus on learning.
Isolation separates a person with a contagious disease from people who are not sick. This means that anyone who tests positive for COVID should have no contact with other people for at least five days, including members of their own household. (Parents/guardians of children who are too young to be left alone and unsupervised for long periods should take reasonable steps to minimize contact—for example, by limiting interaction to one adult family member, wearing masks at home, and opening windows when feasible.)
Quarantine separates people exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick. This is no longer required for City Schools students and staff. If you or your child has been exposed to COVID, simply ask for “test to stay” testing from your school.
Your school will notify you if your child tests positive. If your middle, middle/high, or high school student tests positive, they must isolate for five days, and mask for the following five days. You can also check for your student’s test results online by following these directions.
If you believe your child has been exposed to COVID you may request “test to stay” testing, and your school will either rapid test your child or provide you with at-home tests.
Not necessarily. A person who tests positive for COVID can return to school on Day 6 if they have no symptoms or if symptoms are improving. According to the Baltimore City Department of Health, this means that the person:
If the COVID-positive person has any of these symptoms and they are not getting better on Day 5 of isolation, they should remain home until 24 hours after they begin to improve.
(Note that if symptoms included loss of taste or smell, this may be ongoing but is not a reason to be excluded from returning to school.)
The student may remain in school but must mask for 10 days. Please request “test to stay” testing from your school to ensure that your child is negative and monitor their symptoms closely for 10 days.
If students have symptoms and test positive for COVID, they are marked with an excused absence during the isolation period and any additional days they need to recover.
All other students should be in school and participating in test to stay, if needed! Participating in City Schools testing program means that students can avoid missing school or being marked with unexcused absences. Parents/guardians can consent to testing by completing and returning the form below.
Download the consent form to your school: English | Spanish
Please send a note from your doctor to your school if they are unable to return after 5 days of isolation. Your child will be marked with an excused absence for the days they miss due to COVID.