Walton County School District

Quarantine FAQ

Quarantine Protocol and Frequently Asked Questions

Based on Georgia Department of Public Health guidelines, the current quarantine protocol is as follows:

Symptomatic persons with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 may return to work or school after all of the following have occurred:

At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared
At least 24 hours have passed since recovery, defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications
Improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath)

Asymptomatic persons with confirmed COVID-19 may return to work or school after:

At least 10 days have passed since the positive laboratory test (and the person remains asymptomatic)

Asymptomatic persons who have a known exposure to an individual with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in close contact may return to work after:

A 10-day quarantine period
OR
A 7-day quarantine period if they remain asymptomatic and provide proof of a negative test result taken after 5 days in quarantine

How do you determine the quarantine timelines?

Per Department of Public Health guidelines, students/staff identified as having a positive COVID-19 test are required to quarantine for 10 days from the beginning of the symptoms OR if asymptomatic from the date of the test. Those exposed to the positive person within close contact (less than 6 feet for 15 minutes or longer) must complete a 10 or 7-day quarantine period (see information on options above) from the last day of exposure. This day may vary from person to person, thereby changing quarantine timelines.

Do I have to take my child to be tested?

No, parents are not required to have their children tested. If you do choose to have your child tested, they will have to stay home until the test results are received.

If my child gets a negative test while quarantined, will he/she be able to return to school?

Individuals in quarantine are allowed to return to school after 7 days if they remain asymptomatic and provide proof of a negative test result taken after 5 days in quarantine.

Does my younger or older child also have to be quarantined?

If one child is quarantined as a known exposure in close contact, siblings would not be required to quarantine. Per the Georgia Department of Public Health, only the persons in close contact with the positive person are required to quarantine. If the child in quarantine tests positive, then all family members would be required to quarantine.

If I choose to keep my younger or older child out of school, are their absences excused?

If parents choose to keep siblings home while one child is quarantined, schools may excuse absences with a parent note.

Is my child allowed to attend other school events while quarantined?

No, when a student/staff member is quarantined, they are not allowed to attend any school events, including sports, after school activities, practices, club gatherings, etc.

DPH Contact Tracing

DPH will follow up with those who are quarantined for symptom monitoring. Individuals will be asked by DPH to monitor their symptoms and report any symptoms through a text messaging system, or by calling DPH if unable to text, and are asked to stay home during their quarantine period. Please visit their website for more information on contact tracing.

Updated Dec. 4, 2020