Positive COVID cases and student exposure
What happens when there’s a positive case or exposure at KS?
In June 2023, Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) issued new COVID-19 guidance regarding isolation and quarantine requirements for K-12 Schools to align with recent changes to CDC guidance.
These requirements are subject to change as updated guidelines are issued by the DOH or CDC.
K–12 students
My child:
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TESTED POSITIVE
Regardless of vaccination status
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- Your child should stay home and isolate for at least five full days since the symptom onset or test collection date if asymptomatic.1
- If your child’s symptoms have improved and they have been 24 hours fever free without fever-reducing medication, they may return to school on Day 6. They must wear a high-quality mask around others at KS for five additional days (through day 10).
- If your child’s symptoms have not improved2 by Day 5, they should remain home until they are feeling well.
- If your child develops symptoms after testing positive, their five-day isolation period should start over.
- After your child has ended isolation, if their COVID-19 symptoms recur or worsen, their five-day isolation should start over and you should talk to your healthcare provider.
- Antigen testing3 including proof of a negative test result is not required to return to school. Your child should continue to wear a mask through day 10 at KS.
High-risk activities: Your child can return to high-risk extracurricular activities but should wear a mask for the full 10 days. Positive students will also follow our KS Return To Play (RTP) protocol. Please contact your child’s athletic trainers for next steps in returning to athletics safely.
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WAS EXPOSED OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL
Regardless of vaccination status
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Your child may return to school if they are feeling well. Your child should wear a mask for 10 days after exposure at school.
Antigen testing is recommended on day 6 after exposure (unless you have tested positive in the last 30 days). If your child test’s positive stay home and notify your child’s health room.
If your child develops symptoms, they should stay home, seek care from your primary care provider, get tested and you should notify your child’s health room.
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WAS POTENTIALLY EXPOSED AT SCHOOL
Regardless of vaccination status
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Your child may return to school if they are feeling well.
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1 If you have symptoms prior to or on the day of testing positive, Day 0 is the day your symptoms first developed. If you never developed symptoms, Day 0 is the day you were tested.
2 If you had moderate illness (if you experienced shortness of breath or had difficulty breathing), or severe illness (you were hospitalized) due to COVID-19, or you have a weakened immune system, you need to isolate through day 10. If you had moderate or or severe illness or have a weakened immune system, consult your doctor before ending isolation. 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.
3 If you chose to take antigen tests after testing positive, you can find more information from the CDC here and here and discuss results with your healthcare provider. Regardless of your test results you must remain home from work for the 5-day isolation period and wear your mask at KS through day 10.
Notification
Please complete the COVID reporting form if your child tested positive for COVID-19. You can also contact your child’s Health Room directly or email HealthServicesAlert@ksbe.edu.
