Returning to school COVID guidance
Returning to school this fall looks differently for students, staff, and parents. The following information provides a little overview of what to expect for the school year.
Please contact your school district with specific questions.
County Case Rate
The learning model used at each school will be based on Wadena County’s or Todd County's positive COVID‐19 case rate. You can find the county case rate updated each Thursday here: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/stats/wschool.pdf.
Exclusion Guidance for Sick Children
COVID‐19 symptoms can be difficult to distinguish from other illnesses. The MN Department of Health has issued the following guidance:
1. Keep your child home and isolate them from siblings and household members if:
– They have any of the following: fever greater than or equal to 100.4 degrees F, new-onset and/or worsening cough, difficulty breathing, the new loss of taste or smell; or,
– They have two or more of the following: sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, muscle
pain, excessive fatigue, new onset of severe headache, new onset of nasal congestion or runny nose.
2. Seek guidance from your healthcare provider to determine if your child needs to be tested for COVID‐19 or has a different illness.
3. Keep all siblings and household members home until you receive a negative COVID‐19 test result or an alternative diagnosis from your healthcare provider.
4. If your child receives a positive COVID‐19 test result they should stay at home in isolation for at least 10 days from when symptoms started, until they feel better, and have had no fever for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medications). All siblings and household members must stay home and quarantine for 14 days from their last date of close contact with the individual who tested positive.
For more information view the COVID‐19 decision tree for people in schools, youth, and child care programs: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools/exguide.pdf.
Masking Requirement
All students, staff, and other people present in school buildings and district offices or riding on school transportation vehicles are required to wear a face covering.
Tips for parents/guardians
Talk about the importance of wearing masks around teachers and friends; send your child to school with a clean mask every day; masks are available at your school should your child need one.
For questions related to the COVID‐19 pandemic, call the Minnesota Helpline: 651‐297‐1304 or 1‐800‐657‐3504 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.