The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shortened the recommended quarantine time at the end of last year.
By Emily Donaldson and Talia Richman
Texas students returned to class this week, just as the highly contagious omicron variant tore through the state.
One in three Texans taking COVID-19 tests are receiving positive results, foreshadowing what may be a large number of students – many of whom attend class unmasked, in large group settings – eventually getting the same results.
State health guidance prohibits students and staff with confirmed COVID cases from participating in class on campus. But exactly how long students should remain at home is not always clear.
Despite shifting federal recommendations, a Texas schools health update released Friday kept advice for student quarantines intact while changing the suggested quarantine period for educators.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shortened the recommended quarantine time at the end of last year, advising people with coronavirus to isolate themselves for five days. If they are asymptomatic or their symptoms appear to be resolving, they can leave their quarantine after that period but must mask up around others for the following five days.
On Thursday, CDC echoed these recommendations in revamped health protocols for K-12 schools. The new guidance advises individuals who are not fully vaccinated and exposed to someone with COVID to stay home and quarantine from other people for at least five days after the close contact.
At least five days after the close contact, those exposed individuals without symptoms should test for coronavirus. If they test negative, they can leave quarantine but should continue wearing a well-fitting mask around others. If they test positive, they should isolate for at least another five days from their positive test.
COVID-19 positive Texas students should still follow Department of State Health Services guidance to not attend in-person class for at least 10 days since symptoms began, according to the Texas Education Agency.
The agency released updated health guidance on Friday afternoon, but maintained their advice for student quarantines.
However, Texas educators who are sick with COVID-19 can quarantine for five days and return to the classroom if they have no symptoms or are fever free and seeing an improvement in symptoms. This represents a change from previous guidance, released in the fall.
Districts should expect more updates to guidance surrounding students soon, Education Commissioner Mike Morath told superintendents on a phone call Friday afternoon.
The Texas state health department is reviewing its guidance in light of the CDC update and is working with the Texas Education Agency, DSHS spokesman Chris Van Deusen said earlier this week.
School district policies have varied throughout North Texas.
Coppell ISD, for example, adopted CDC’s update, telling families that the district’s policy is to have individuals testing positive isolate for five days. Fort Worth ISD also updated its guidance in January to advise anyone testing positive, regardless of vaccination status, to stay at home for five days when testing positive.
Dallas ISD has yet to announce any changes to its quarantine policy, which follow the state guidelines.
Plano school officials instructed families in early January to “follow all isolation and quarantine guidelines from the local health authority or their physician.”
So how long should families keep their children home after a COVID scare?
Dr. Seth Kaplan, the immediate past president of the Texas Pediatric Society, said the CDC’s new quarantine guidance should be considered with nuance.
For instance, the rules apply differently if people are vaccinated. Also, children must wear a well-fitting mask should they exit their quarantine five days after exposure. Masks are not required in most Texas schools as Gov. Greg Abbott has prohibited such mandates via executive order.
If a family decides to follow the updated CDC guidance of the shortened quarantine, it must also follow the guidance of mask wearing, he stressed.
“If you test negative on day five and you’re willing to wear a mask, then returning seems reasonable,” Kaplan said.
The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.
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