Health and Well Being
Guidance from Dr. Vijay Sikand, District Medical Advisor
September 16, 2024
Dear Parent/Guardian,
As we begin the 2024-2025 school year, we would like to remind you of the procedures to when your child is not feeling well. Since the official end of the COVID Public Health Emergency in May 2023, previous Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance for isolation and quarantine followed in schools is no longer in effect. Groton Public Schools continues to advise all parents and guardians to encourage your children to follow public health best practices as they have always done for hygiene, however, there is no longer a requirement for students to quarantine for 5 days if they test positive for COVID.
Parents of students who have symptoms of COVID, have been exposed to COVID, or who have tested positive for COVID should consult with their child’s primary care provider for guidance, diagnosis, or treatment as they would for any other respiratory illness. As with other illnesses, all students are encouraged to stay at home if they are exhibiting symptoms of any infectious diseases or have a fever regardless of the cause of the respiratory illness. Students may return to school when they are fever free for 24 hours without the need for antipyretics (fever reducing medication).
The majority of health care providers are treating and managing COVID like any of the other prevalent viral respiratory infections. Groton Public Schools encourages students to continue to follow good hygiene practices and leave primary decision making to parents and guardians and the child’s own health care provider.
Sincerely,
Dr. Vijay Sikand
District Medical Advisor
