Taylorville CUSD updates quarantine guide

TAYLORVILLE — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its quarantine and isolation guidance with a shorter period of 5 days to focus on the period when a person is most infectious, followed by continued masking for an additional 5 days. The CDC has now updated its guidance for school settings as well as the general population in the community, including workplaces. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and ISBE aligned with CDC guidance on shortening isolation and quarantine periods for COVID-19 for schools (IDPH Health Alert). The CDC made these changes to reflect accumulating evidence that demonstrates that the majority of transmission occurs during the early periods of infection. Combined with continued adherence to universal indoor masking and highly effective vaccines, these changes will allow more students to stay safely in-person. Thank you for your patience as we awaited clarity from the CDC, and thank you for all that you are doing to provide students the safe, in-person learning environment they need to thrive.

Exclusions

• If exposed, stay home and away from other people for at least 5 days (day 0-5) after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19. The date of your exposure is considered day 0. Wear a well-fitting mask when around others at home, if possible.

• If you test positive, you should isolate for at least 5 days from the date of your positive test (if you do not have symptoms). If you then develop COVID-19 symptoms, isolate for at least 5 days from the date your symptoms began. If fever or your other symptoms have not improved after 5

days of isolation, you should wait to end your isolation until you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved. Contact your healthcare provider as needed.

Who does not need to be excluded

•Ages 5-17 years who completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.

• Confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days (you tested positive using a viral test).

• Aged 18+ and have received all recommended vaccine doses, including boosters.