COVID continues to be present in our community. We do encourage the wearing of masks when students are in close, confined spaces, such as on a school bus. However, just as we ended last year, those who wish to wear a mask while at work or school may do so, but it is not a requirement. We will have masks on hand at each school for anyone who wants them, as long as we can get them from suppliers.  

Classrooms and buses will continue to be advised to provide airflow where possible, especially during these early months of school.  We will also continue to encourage classrooms to use our outdoor spaces as needed.  Finally, we will continue to offer vaccine clinics and gather feedback from surrounding school districts on practices. In addition, our health office professionals have secured test kits for symptomatic students and staff. 

As a reminder, if your child displays any of the following symptoms, we strongly suggest that you keep them home from school and contact their pediatrician for additional guidance:

• a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher, 

• a new or worsened cough, 

• shortness of breath, 

• loss of taste or smell, 

• a sore throat, 

• vomiting, and/or 

• the onset of a severe headache.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you may obtain a test from your school office. This test is designed to be an at-home test that is performed by a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult.  

If you test positive for COVID-19 or are told by a medical care provider that you have tested positive for COVID-19, you must be isolated at home for a minimum of five days regardless of vaccination status. You may end isolation and return to school after five full days if you are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and your symptoms are improving.

If you have been asymptomatic with a positive test, you must isolate yourself at home for five full days from the day you test positive. If you are asymptomatic, calculate your isolation duration by considering day zero to be your first day of symptoms or the day your specimen was collected for testing. Then count five days. 

Whether or not you have been symptomatic, with a positive test result, you should wear a tight, well-fitted mask for five days upon your return to school. 

The CDC also advises that you wear a mask after exposure to COVID-19 regardless of your vaccination status. Information on what to do if you were exposed is available here. Our school health offices will make this information available to families and will continue to offer tests to symptomatic students.

Please know that just as in prior years, we will regularly monitor the impact of any communicable diseases while consulting with local health departments and medical experts for guidance on our operations. While we will not be able to keep COVID from our facilities, our team will continue these practices and plans to work tirelessly in eliminating any major disruptions to learning due to COVID.

If you have questions or concerns about COVID-19, call the Ohio Department of Health hotline seven days a week from 9am to 8pm at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).

• City of Worthington COVID-19 Information
• Vaccination Information from the Columbus Department of Health
• Columbus Public Health COVID Portal
• Worthington School Health Services (Nurse Contact Info)