PCS Illness Reminders

As we head into late fall and winter, which is typically the time of year when there are increases in illness-related absences, Pitt County Schools would like to offer the following reminders:

Students and staff who test Covid Positive:

Students/staff who have a positive Covid test result should isolate from others for 5 days following the start of symptoms, then must wear a mask for 5 additional days to return to school/work.
Individuals should continue to isolate themselves from others until fever-free and symptoms have significantly improved.
No covid re-testing is required for return to school/work for positive individuals.

Students and staff who are exposed to someone with Covid:

Students/staff identified as exposed to a Covid positive individual (regardless of where exposure occurs - home, school, community, etc.) may continue to attend school/work.
Contact tracing and notification of an exposure is no longer required.
It is recommended that students/staff who have a direct exposure and develop symptoms of Covid be tested.

Additional Info:

Sick students should remain at home.
Students may return to school once they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medications such as Tylenol or Motrin and other symptoms have improved.
If vomiting or diarrhea is present, there should be no new episodes for at least 12 hours.
Students should feel well enough to fully participate in school activities.
Students may return with a parent’s note to excuse the absence (as an illness).
A doctor’s note is not required to return to school following a routine and short-term illness, including Covid-19 (short-term may be defined as 1 week or less).
Parents should consider having their student seen by their primary doctor if they are running a fever of 100.4 or higher for more than 24 hours, vomiting several times in a 24-hour period or have flu-like symptoms that are not improving after 48-72 hours.

Parents should only utilize the Emergency Department for symptoms that require immediate care:

Fast breathing or working hard to breathe;
Bluish skin color;
Not waking up or lethargic;
Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with a fever and worse cough;
Unable to drink or eat;
Having no tears when crying (symptom of dehydration);
Fever with a rash. (Source: CDC.gov)

*Please note that students who have underlying medical conditions or are immuno-suppressed may need to seek medical care from their doctor more quickly.