Covid-19 Guidance and Resources
2022-2023 School Year
For the 2022-2023 school year Green Meadow Waldorf School will continue to follow the Covid- 19 guidance of the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), Rockland County Department of Health (RCDOH), and New York State Education Department (NYSED) which are all informed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
On August 11, 2022 the CDC released updated guidance isolation, as well as Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning. On August 22, 2022, New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and New York State Education Department (NYSED) issued their 2022-2023 School Year Joint Department of Health – State Education Department letter to schools which directs schools to follow their local departments of health. Rockland County Department of Health directly aligns their guidance with the CDC.
We are grateful for our community’s participation in and adherence to this guidance, and for your patience as we work together in support of our community’s collective health and well being.
Mask Guidance
The CDC’s COVID-19 Community Level tool classifies every county in the USA into low, medium, or high levels, with recommended prevention measures for each level. CDC, NYSDOH, and RCDOH recommend individuals at high risk continue to mask or discuss appropriate precautions with their providers. If or when Rockland County is rated as a high-risk area, the CDC and RCDOH mask guidance is to mask indoors. The school community will be alerted weekly through the Seven Days communication emailed on Sundays about what the masking recommendation is for the week.
Isolation Protocol
Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19
Covid-19 Symptoms, Positive Cases, and Staying Home While Sick
Email the Care Room with any Covid-like symptoms, exposure, COVID-19 positive results, or if home with another illness or symptoms.
Staying Home When Sick/Symptomatic:
- The CDC continues to recommend that people stay home when sick. Any student or employee who has symptoms of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, such as cough, fever, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, or any Covid-like symptoms, should stay home and contact the Care Room.
- GMWS requires students and employees with Covid-like symptoms to submit a Covid test and be symptom free for 24 hours, without the aid of medication, before returning to school. Home Covid tests, rapid antigen tests, PCR, or NAAT tests are accepted.
- Students and employees who are symptomatic and awaiting COVID-19 test results or have tested positive for COVID-19 should follow CDC’s Isolation Guidance.
Non-Covid Illness:
GMWS requires students and employees who display any symptoms of illness not related to Covid to submit a negative Covid test.
- To return to school, you must have no active symptoms of illness and be fever free for 24 hours without the aid of medication.
- If symptoms are vomiting or diarrhea (including the night before), they must be symptom free for 24 hours, without the aid of medication, before returning to school.
- If prescribed an antibiotic by your medical doctor, please allow 24 hours from the beginning of treatment before returning to school. Additionally, if treatment begins mid-day and a 24-hour exclusion from school is required post-treatment, students and employees are not eligible to return to school mid-day.
Contact the Care Room for further guidance if needed.
Testing
When to Get Tested for COVID-19
Key times to get tested:
- If you have symptoms, test immediately.
- If you were exposed to COVID-19 and do not have symptoms, wait at least 5 full days after your exposure before testing. If you test too early, you may be more likely to get an inaccurate result.
New York State Resources for Schools
2022-23 School Year Joint DOH-SED Letter to Schools
2022-23 School Year FAQs for Schools
2022-23 School Year FAQs for Parents and Caregivers