New Town High SchoolAn International Baccalaureate World School

Our health professionals keep students at New Town High School safe and healthy!

School Nurse

Sheila Brown, School Nurse [email protected]

Wellness is a priority here at New Town High. 

There has been a recent increase in respiratory illnesses (COVID, FLU, RSV, Pneumonia) in our schools and communities.  Flu season peaks between December and February.  To keep yourself and others safe, and to prevent the spread of these illnesses, please be advised of the following CDC recommendations: 

• If you choose to wear a mask, please be sure it fits properly over your nose and mouth.   
• Clean hands before putting on mask and when taking it off. 
• Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with soap and water, or hand sanitizer. 
• Cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or a tissue when sneezing or coughing. 
• Dispose of the use tissue in trash can immediately and wash hands 
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are regularly touched such as door handles, faucets, phone screens.  

THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS OF RESPIRATORY ILLNESS SUCH AS COVID-19, RSV, AND FLU CAN PRESENT AS FOLLOW:   

COVID-19/RSV SYMPTOMS: 

• Fever 
• Chills 
• Dry cough 
• Fatigue 
• Loss of taste or smell 
• Sore throat 
• Headache 

FLU SYMPTOMS: 

• Fever 
• Chills 
• Nausea 
• Vomiting  
• Diarrhea 
• Runny nose 
• Body aches 

Staff and students are encouraged to stay home when sick.  If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, especially fever, it is recommended that you contact your health care provider for testing and evaluation.  If you have tested positive for COVID or Flu, the CDC recommendation is to quarantine for 5 days until fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication. 

The goal is to keep our staff and students safe and well!

Thanks! 

Nurse Sheila Brown 

(See CDC article below). 

 

Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19 

Updated May 11, 2023 

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If you were exposed to COVID-19, you should start taking precautions. 

Isolation and Exposure Calculator 

A tool to help you determine if you need to isolate or take other steps to prevent spreading COVID-19. 

If you have COVID-19, you can spread the virus to others. There are precautions you can take to prevent spreading it to others: isolation, masking, and avoiding contact with people who are at high risk of getting very sick. Isolation is used to separate people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 from those without COVID-19. 

These recommendations do not change based on COVID-19 hospital admission levels. If you have COVID-19, also see additional information on treatments that may be available to you. 

This information is intended for a general audience. Healthcare professionals should see Ending Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19. This CDC guidance is meant to supplement—not replace—any federal, state, local, territorial, or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations. 

For Healthcare Professionals: Ending Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19

When to Isolate 

Regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate from others when you have COVID-19. 

You should also isolate if you are sick and suspect that you have COVID-19 but do not yet have test results. If your results are positive, follow the full isolation recommendations below. If your results are negative, you can end your isolation. 

IF YOU TEST

Negative 

You can end your isolation 

IF YOU TEST

Positive 

Follow the full isolation recommendations below 

When you have COVID-19, isolation is counted in days, as follows: 

If you had no symptoms 

1. Day 0 is the day you were tested (not the day you received your positive test result) 
2. Day 1 is the first full day following the day you were tested 
3. If you develop symptoms within 10 days of when you were tested, the clock restarts at day 0 on the day of symptom onset 

If you had symptoms 

4. Day 0 of isolation is the day of symptom onset, regardless of when you tested positive 
5. Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started 

Isolation 

If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home. 

You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days. 

6. Wear a high-quality mask if you must be around others at home and in public. 
7. Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask. For travel guidance, see CDC’s Travel webpage. 
8. Do not travel. 
9. Stay home and separate from others as much as possible. 
10. Use a separate bathroom, if possible. 
11. Take steps to improve ventilation at home, if possible. 
12. Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils. 
13. Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately. 
14. Learn more about what to do if you have COVID-19. 

Ending Isolation 

End isolation based on how serious your COVID-19 symptoms were. Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation. 

If you had no symptoms 

You may end isolation after day 5. 

If you had symptoms and: 

Your symptoms are improving 

You may end isolation after day 5 if: 

15. You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication). 

Your symptoms are not improving 

Continue to isolate until: 

16. You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication). 
17. Your symptoms are improving. ¹ 

If you had symptoms and had: 

Moderate illness (you experienced shortness of breath or had difficulty breathing) 

You need to isolate through day 10. 

Severe illness (you were hospitalized) or have a weakened immune system 

18. You need to isolate through day 10. 
19. Consult your doctor before ending isolation. 
20. Ending isolation without a viral test may not be an option for you. 

If you are unsure if your symptoms are moderate or severe or if you have a weakened immune system, talk to a healthcare provider for further guidance. 

Regardless of when you end isolation 

Until at least day 11: 

21. Avoid being around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19. 
22. Remember to wear a high-quality mask when indoors around others at home and in public. 
23. Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask until you are able to discontinue masking (see below). 
24. For travel guidance, see CDC’s Travel webpage.