Below is information compiled by our MACS nursing staff.

What do I do if my child has symptoms of COVID? 

1. Keep your child home from school and notify your child’s school nurse or the Covid Coordinator.
2. Administer a home COVID test (You may pick one up at the school or District Office if you need one).

• If the home test is negative and because they have symptoms, you will need to have your child tested with a PCR test for the child to return to school. If your child is enrolled at the school-based health center, you may schedule a PCR test with them. If your child is not enrolled, please contact them for more information at 315-963-8400 ext. 4208. If you need information on other places to get a PCR test, please contact your child’s school nurse.
• If the PCR test is negative, please provide a copy of the test results or a doctor’s note stating negative test results to your child’s school nurse. If negative, they cannot return until symptoms are resolving, fever free (below 100 degrees Fahrenheit) without fever-reducing medicine, and 24 hours after vomiting or diarrhea. 
• If the home test is positive, students should isolate for five days and may return to school, wearing a well-fitting mask, if symptoms are resolving, 24 hours after vomiting or diarrhea and they are fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medicine. 
• No one should return to school with a productive cough or continuous runny nose.

What do I do if my child is determined to be a close contact to someone that has tested positive for Covid-19 (in school or outside of school exposure)? 

• If they have any symptoms, they need to stay home and follow the above directions.
• No symptoms- they can return to school, and it is strongly recommended that that they wear a well fitted mask for 10 days after their last exposure to someone that tested positive. 
• No symptoms- recommended to test 2-3 days and 5 days after last exposure. This can be done with home tests. Home tests are available in the district office and school nurse’s offices 

 If you have any questions, please reach out to our COVID Coordinator, Ms. Sadie Blauvelt at (315) 529-9471 or sblauvel@mexicocsd.org.  

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.  

People with these symptoms may have COVID-19: 

• Fever or chills 
• Cough 
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing 
• Fatigue 
• Muscle or body aches 
• Headache 
• New loss of taste or smell 
• Sore throat 
• Congestion or runny nose 
• Nausea or vomiting 
• Diarrhea 
• Look for emergency warning signs for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately: 
• Trouble breathing 
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest 
• New confusion 
• Inability to wake or stay awake 
• Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone 

Call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.