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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Schools
Additional Guidance as of January 13, 2022
(Subject to change based on new information and updates to existing CDC guidance)
The state of Illinois has adopted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) updated
Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools. In addition, the Illinois Department of Public Health
(IDPH) and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) have issued Revised Public Health Guidance for
Schools that applies to all public and nonpublic schools that serve students in pre-kindergarten through
grade 12 (pre-K-12). The joint guidance is based on updated CDC guidance for COVID-19 prevention and
the state executive orders.
Executive Order 2021-18
1
requires masks be worn indoors by all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to
pre-K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. Executive Order 2021-22
2
requires all
school personnel be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by September 19, 2021, or submit to at least
weekly testing. Executive Order 2022-03
3
requires all schools and school districts to exclude students
and school personnel from school who are confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19, who are close
contacts to a case, or who exhibit COVID-19 like symptoms.
In addition to the health and safety reasons for following state and CDC guidance, school districts that
decide not to follow this guidance should consult with their insurers regarding risk assumption and
liability coverage. Insurers may be unwilling to cover liabilities created as a result of failure to adhere to
public health guidance.
Further, school districts and nonpublic schools that decide not to follow this guidance are exhibiting
deficiencies that present a health hazard or a danger to students or staff and therefore risk the benefits
of state recognition. For nonpublic schools, becoming nonrecognized means they cannot participate in
the Invest in Kids Act tax credit scholarship program or Illinois High School Association (IHSA) and Illinois
Elementary School Association (IESA) sanctioned sports, subject to the regulations set by IHSA/IESA. For
public school districts, becoming nonrecognized means loss of access to state and federal funding and
the inability to participate in IHSA and IESA sanctioned sports, subject to the regulations set by
IHSA/IESA.
Major changes to the guidance for the 2021-2022 school year include the following:
● Mandatory exclusion of students and school personnel as required by Executive Order 2022-03.
● Promotion of vaccination as the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19
pandemic and the requirement, pursuant to Executive Order 2021-22, that all school personnel
be fully vaccinated or submit to at least weekly testing.
1
For purposes of this document, “Executive Order 2021-18” shall mean Executive Order 2021-18 and any future Executive
Order that reissues and extends Executive Order 2021-18.
2
For purposes of this document, “Executive Order 2021-22” shall mean Executive Order 2021-22 and any future Executive
Order that reissues and extends Executive Order 2021-22.
3
For purposes of this document, “Executive Order 2022-03” shall mean Executive Order 2022-03 and any future Executive
Order that reissues and extends Executive Order 2022-03.
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● Additional emphasis on the importance of offering in-person learning, regardless of whether all
prevention strategies can be implemented in a school.
● Alignment with Executive Order 2021-18 on required universal indoor masking in pre-K-12
schools for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status.
● Revised definition of close contacts to guide quarantine or exclusion procedure.
● Introduction of a Test to Stay alternative to quarantine or exclusion.
● Updates to be consistent with CDC recommendation for shortened quarantine and isolation
periods.
● Updates to Test to Stay protocols.
Contents
Vaccination 6
1. What is the importance of vaccinations in supporting fully in-person instruction? (Updated
1/11/2022) 6
2. Is there a state mandate that school personnel receive the COVID-19 vaccine? 6
3. By when must school personnel obtain the COVID-19 vaccine or submit to at least weekly
testing? 6
4. To whom does the COVID-19 vaccination or testing requirement apply? 7
5. Is there a state mandate that students obtain the COVID-19 vaccine? 7
6. Are schools required to collect vaccination status of school personnel? 7
7. How can a school determine if school personnel are vaccinated? 8
8. How can a school determine if a student is vaccinated? 8
9. Who is responsible for ensuring that school personnel not employed by the school or school
district comply with the vaccination or testing requirements? 9
10. May school personnel refuse to be fully vaccinated for any reason? 9
11. May schools institute requirements for vaccination or testing that exceed the requirements
set forth in Executive Order 2021-22 and ISBE’s emergency rules? 10
Masking 10
12. Who must wear masks in schools? 10
13. What kind of mask should students and staff wear at school? (Added 1/11/2022) 10
14. Are masks required during extracurricular activities? (Updated 1/11/2022) 11
15. What is the primary purpose of a mask? 11
16. How should cloth masks be cleaned and stored? 12
17. When should a mask be changed? 12
18. What are the recommendations as to when a mask may be removed for students and staff?
12
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19. What PPE is required by school nurses who are assessing a student or staff member
reporting COVID-19-like symptoms? 12
20. What are the recommendations on using a face shield in lieu of a mask? 13
21. How should schools handle students who cannot tolerate a face covering or a face shield
due to a medical contraindication? (Updated 1/11/2022) 13
22. What are the recommendations on using a neck warmer in lieu of a cloth mask? 14
23. What kind of PPE is required for staff who clean areas used by a suspected or known COVID-
19 case? 14
24. Can clear masks be utilized? 14
Physical Distancing 14
25. What are the CDC’s physical distancing recommendations for individuals in classrooms? 14
26. What additional prevention measures should schools adopt if maintaining physical
distancing of at least 3 feet between students is not feasible in their facilities? 15
27. What are the CDC’s physical distancing recommendations for cafeterias and other areas
where food is consumed? 15
Testing 15
28. Is COVID-19 testing required for unvaccinated school personnel? 15
29. What tests may be used for unvaccinated school personnel? 15
30. For how long will school personnel who are not fully vaccinated need to submit to testing?
15
31. If a school does not operate a testing program, are school personnel required to pay for
testing? 16
32. May unvaccinated school personnel purchase and self-administer a test and provide test
results to the school for required weekly screening for unvaccinated staff? 16
33. How can school personnel who are not fully vaccinated provide proof of a negative test? 16
34. What happens if school personnel undergoing at least weekly testing for COVID-19 receives
a positive result? (Updated 1/11/2022) 17
35. Must a school exclude unvaccinated school personnel who are testing in accordance with
applicable testing requirements while they are awaiting test results? 17
36. How can testing be used to support in-person instruction? (Updated 1/11/2022) 17
37. How can testing be used to support participation in extracurricular activities? 17
38. When a student is tested outside of school, can the school be notified of a confirmed or
probable case as quickly as possible? 18
39. If a student or staff member presents a note from a health provider or negative COVID-19
test result, for how many days is that test result valid? 18
40. When is a confirmatory PCR test required for possible cases in the school setting? (Updated
1/11/2022) 18
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41. Do fully vaccinated persons need to be tested? (Updated 1/11/2022) 19
Management of Ill Students and Staff 19
42. Do schools need to conduct temperature checks and symptom screening and/or require
parents to provide attestation of negative symptom screening on a daily basis? 19
43. What actions should be taken by students/staff sent home with COVID-19-like symptoms?
(Updated 1/11/2022) 20
44. If a student is sent home sick with suspected COVID-19 symptoms (e.g., cough, fever,
diarrhea, shortness of breath, etc.), must all their siblings/household members be sent home as
well? (Updated 1/11/2022) 20
45. How many symptoms does a person need to have to be considered a suspect COVID-19
case? 21
46. What temperature is the fever threshold to be considered a symptom of COVID-19 and for
the purposes of sending ill students and staff home? 21
47. What are the recommendations for someone who has previously tested positive for COVID-
19? (Updated 1/11/2022) 21
Contract Tracing, Exclusion and Quarantine 21
48. How are close contacts determined in school? (Updated 1/11/2022) 21
49. Who will do contact tracing? 22
50. Is contact tracing only performed when a positive test is received? 23
51. If a confirmed or probable COVID-19 case is identified in a classroom, or on a school bus,
who will be considered close contacts that need to be excluded? Will this include the entire
classroom or all the students on the bus? (Updated 1/11/2022) 23
52. Do vaccinated students and staff have to be excluded after an exposure to a case? (Updated
1/11/2022) 23
53. Does an individual with positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing need to be excluded if
identified as a close contact? (Updated 1/11/2022) 24
54. If a student or staff member is identified as a close contact to a person with COVID-19 and is
excluded from school, are their household members and close contacts also required to be
excluded? 24
55. What are best practices for exclusion and quarantine? (Added 1/11/2022) 24
56. What restrictions on activities do students and staff have after completing exclusion or Test
to Stay, especially those returning after 5 days? (Added 1/11/2022) 25
Cleaning and Disinfection 25
57. What kind of cleaning and disinfection for schools is recommended? 25
Outbreaks 26
58. What is the definition of an outbreak in pre-K-12 schools? 26
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59. If there is a large outbreak of COVID-19 within a school, what are the recommendations for
temporary school closure? (Updated 1/11/2022) 27
60. Are there alternative strategies to school closure during a large outbreak that may be
considered or employed? (Updated 1/11/2022) 27
Communication and Reporting 27
61. Are schools required to report information to the local health department including cases,
type and onset of symptoms, number of exposed persons, etc.? 27
62. Is there a template letter for schools to use when notifying parents/guardians, students,
and staff of a case of COVID-19? 28
63. Is it a Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) violation to notify the LHD/IDPH or
staff and parents of a confirmed or probable case(s) in our school? 28
64. Does contact tracing violate the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPAA)? 28
65. If we have a case of COVID-19 in a student at our school, what is our responsibility for
notifying schools attended by siblings of the case? 28
66. Besides public health authorities, who should be notified of a case of COVID-19 at our
school? Must we notify the entire district, or only the classroom or the building? 28
Special Situations/Other Groups 29
67. Can the school nurse administer nebulizer treatments on campus? 29
68. Playing of some music instruments and singing are recognized as ways COVID-19 can be
spread more easily by respiratory droplets. How can we prevent transmission in band or music
classes? 29
69. Occasionally, students share music, equipment, and even instruments. How do we manage
these situations? 30
70. If an athlete is diagnosed with COVID-19, is it up to the school to notify all other teams that
the athlete has been in contact with? 30
71. What is the role of the local health department in a situation involving an athlete diagnosed
with COVID-19? (Updated 1/11/2022) 30
Determining Prevention Strategies 31
72. How should schools apply the CDC’s recommended layered prevention strategies? 31
73. How can schools determine what level of transmission is occurring in their community? 32
74. How can schools determine vaccine coverage in their community? 33
75. What are the CDC’s requirements for school buses and other school-related transportation?
33
Travel Restrictions 33
76. Do my school-aged children have to quarantine after returning from domestic travel? 33
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77. Are there any current domestic or international travel restrictions for which we should be
monitoring and excluding students and staff? 34
Resources 34
78. School Toolkits and Checklists 34
Vaccination
1. What is the importance of vaccinations in supporting fully in-person instruction? (Updated
1/11/2022)
Achieving high levels of COVID-19 vaccination among eligible students, as well as teachers, staff, and
household members, is critical to help schools safely resume full operations.
Vaccination is currently the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic.
People who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are at low risk of symptomatic or severe infection.
A growing body of evidence suggests that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are less
likely to have an asymptomatic infection or transmit COVID-19 to others than people who are not fully
vaccinated. (See Question 8 below about ways schools can determine students’ vaccination status.)
Everyone 5 years of age or older is eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. Youth aged 12-17 years old and
adults aged 18 years and older are also eligible for booster doses, per the CDC’s recommendations.
Schools can promote vaccinations among teachers, staff, families, and eligible students by providing
information about COVID-19 vaccination, encouraging vaccine trust and confidence, and
establishing supportive policies and practices that make getting vaccinated as easy and convenient
as possible.
See a listing of vaccination resources and supports on ISBE’s COVID-19 Website under the dropdown
entitled “Supporting COVID-19 Vaccination.”
2. Is there a state mandate that school personnel receive the COVID-19 vaccine?
Executive Order 2021-22 and 23 Ill. Admin. Code 6 require all school personnel to be fully vaccinated
against COVID-19 or submit to at least weekly testing.
3. By when must school personnel obtain the COVID-19 vaccine or submit to at least weekly testing?
Per Executive Order 2021-22 and 23 Ill. Admin. Code 6, school personnel must be vaccinated against
COVID-19 in accordance with the following timeline:
● School personnel acting in their school-based role on or before the effective date of
Executive Order 2021-22 must receive, at a minimum, the first dose of a two-dose vaccine
series or a single-dose vaccine by September 19, 2021, and, if applicable, the second dose of
a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series within 30 days following the administration of their first
dose.
● School personnel first starting in their school-based role after the effective date of Executive
Order 2021-22 must receive, at a minimum, the first dose of a two-dose vaccine series or a
single-dose vaccine within 10 days of their start date in the school-based role, and, if
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applicable, the second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series within 30 days following
the administration of their first dose.
Beginning September 19, 2021, school personnel who are not fully vaccinated must be tested for
COVID-19 with either a PCR or antigen test that either has emergency use authorization by the FDA
or is operating per the Laboratory Developed Test requirements by the U.S. Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS) until they are fully vaccinated. Testing must occur at least weekly for
unvaccinated school personnel.
If a school is experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19 and school personnel who are not fully
vaccinated may be part of the outbreak as determined by public health authorities, such school
personnel must be tested two times per week for the duration of that outbreak. Individuals who
tested positive for COVID-19 within the prior 90 days and are currently asymptomatic may be
exempted from testing during outbreaks, unless otherwise required by local public health officials.
Individuals who are fully vaccinated and a close contact of a COVID-19 case should be tested 5 to 7
days after exposure.
4. To whom does the COVID-19 vaccination or testing requirement apply?
The requirement applies to all public and nonpublic pre-K-12 school personnel.
“School” means any public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school, including charter schools,
serving students in pre-kindergarten through 12
th
grade, including any state-operated residential
schools such as the Philip Rock Center and School, the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired, the
Illinois School for the Deaf, and the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. The term "school"
does not include the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice.
“School personnel” means any person who (1) is employed by, volunteers for (including but not
limited to coaches, before and after school program volunteers, chaperones, etc.), or is contracted
to provide services for a school or school district serving students in pre-kindergarten through 12
th
grade, or who is employed by an entity that is contracted to provide services to a school, school
district, or students of a school, and (2) is in close contact (fewer than 6 feet) with students of the
school or other school personnel for more than 15 minutes at least once a week on a regular basis
as determined by the school. The term “school personnel” does not include any person who is
present at the school for only a short period of time and whose moments of close physical proximity
to others on site are fleeting (e.g., contractors making deliveries to a site where they remain
physically distanced from others or briefly entering a site to pick up a shipment).
5. Is there a state mandate that students obtain the COVID-19 vaccine?
There is no state mandate for pre-K-12 students to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the CDC
and IDPH strongly encourage all individuals eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine to be vaccinated.
Vaccination benefits not only the individual, but also schools and communities by reducing
transmission
6. Are schools required to collect vaccination status of school personnel?
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Yes, 23 Ill. Admin. Code 6 requires all schools to maintain a record for school personnel employed by
the school or school district that identifies them as one of the following: fully vaccinated,
unvaccinated and compliant with the testing requirements, or excluded from school premises.
Each school shall maintain the following documentation for each school personnel employed by the
school or district, as applicable:
1. Proof of vaccination against COVID-19.
2. The results of COVID-19 tests.
Schools shall maintain any school personnel medical records in accordance with applicable law.
7. How can a school determine if school personnel are vaccinated?
Schools must require school personnel who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to submit proof of
vaccination against COVID-19 to the school by September 19, 2021, or immediately upon becoming
fully vaccinated.
“Proof of Vaccination Against COVID-19” means: (1) a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) COVID-19 vaccination record card or photograph of such card, (2) documentation of
vaccination from a health care provider or an electronic health record, or (3) state immunization
records.
Adults can authorize release of such proof for themselves by completing a request for immunization
records from the Illinois Comprehensive Automated Immunization Registry Exchange (I-CARE).
(Chicago residents can complete the request for immunization records using this form.) Adults can
also access their vaccination records through IDPH’s immunization portal, Vax Verify, which allows
Illinois residents 18 years and older to check their COVID-19 vaccination record.
Federal laws do not prevent employers from requiring employees to bring in documentation or
other confirmation of vaccination. This information, like all medical information, must be kept
confidential and stored separately from the employee’s personnel files under the Americans with
Disabilities Act.
8. How can a school determine if a student is vaccinated?
Schools can choose how and whether they will identify students who have been vaccinated and
should communicate their strategies and any changes in plans to school personnel, to families, and
directly to eligible students. For instance, schools may request proof of vaccination from parents for
their children to determine vaccination status. Adults can authorize release of such proof for their
children by completing a request for immunization records (Chicago residents can complete the
request for immunization records using this form) from the Illinois Comprehensive Automated
Immunization Registry Exchange (I-CARE).
Schools that plan to request voluntary submission of documentation of students’ COVID-19
vaccination status should use the same standard protocols that are used to collect and to secure
other immunization or health status information from students. The protocol to collect, to secure, to
use, and to further disclose this information should comply with relevant statutory and regulatory
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requirements, including Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) statutory and regulatory
requirements.
In addition, local school authorities are permitted to access the statewide immunization database to
review student immunization records. Only employees who have direct responsibility for ensuring
student compliance with 77 Ill. Adm. Code 665.210 can apply for and receive access to I-CARE, the
statewide system. No access will be granted to other personnel, such as superintendents or human
resource managers. All individuals with I-CARE access are subject to all requirements and penalties
authorized by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). School
employees may apply for access to I-CARE by following the instructions. Contact I-CARE program
staff via email at dph.icare@illinois.gov for more information.
9. Who is responsible for ensuring that school personnel not employed by the school or school
district comply with the vaccination or testing requirements?
The school or school district is ultimately responsible for ensuring that all individuals who meet the
definition of school personnel comply with the vaccination or testing requirements, regardless of
employer. However, it is expected that any entity who employ school personnel will also ensure that
such individuals meet the vaccination or testing requirements.
For school personnel who are not employed by the school or school district but are providing
services through another entity (i.e., a contractor or service provider of the school), the school
may determine that such school personnel are compliant with Executive Order 2021-22 by requiring
the entity to:
1. Collect proof of vaccination against COVID-19 from the school personnel or proof of
compliance with the testing requirements under Section 6.40 and
2. Submit an attestation to the school that they have collected this proof for any school
personnel they will provide to the school.
Non-school district entities that employ individuals who fall within the definition of school personnel
may request permission from the school districts they serve to have those employees participate in
the weekly COVID-19 testing services that those school districts provide to their employees. School
districts are encouraged, but not required, to grant permission for the employees of entities who
provide services to their schools to participate in the school district’s COVID-19 testing program.
10. May school personnel refuse to be fully vaccinated for any reason?
School personnel may choose not to be vaccinated due to a religious objection, a medical
contraindication to the COVID-19 vaccine, or for any other reason. However, both the CDC and IDPH
strongly encourage all individuals eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine to be vaccinated and for schools
and school districts to encourage their employees to be vaccinated. Regardless of the reason for
refusing vaccination, all school personnel who are not fully vaccinated must submit to at least
weekly testing beginning September 19, 2021, and must continue to submit to at least weekly
testing until they are fully vaccinated. Asymptomatic school personnel who tested positive for
COVID-19 within the prior 90 days may be exempted from weekly testing for that 90-day period
from infection on the condition that they provide confirmation of prior infection.
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11. May schools institute requirements for vaccination or testing that exceed the requirements set
forth in Executive Order 2021-22 and ISBE’s emergency rules?
Yes, a school may adopt vaccination or testing requirements that exceed the requirements in
Executive Order 2021-22. For example, a school may require that all school personnel, other than
those with a religious objection or who have a medical contraindication to the COVID-19 vaccine, be
fully vaccinated. Likewise, a school may require more frequent testing than is prescribed by
Executive Order 2021-22 and 23 Ill. Admin. Code 6.
Masking
12. Who must wear masks in schools?
Everyone. Executive Order 2021-18 requires that all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to pre-K-
12 schools wear a mask while indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
The following categories of people are exempted from the requirement to wear a mask:
● Children under 2 years of age.
● A person who cannot wear a mask or cannot safely wear a mask because of a disability as
defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.). Schools and
districts should discuss the possibility of a reasonable accommodation with workers who are
unable to wear a mask, or who have difficulty wearing certain types of masks because of a
disability.
● A person for whom wearing a mask would create a risk to workplace health, safety, or job
duty as determined by the relevant workplace safety guidelines or federal regulations.
The CDC Order and Executive Order 2021-18 require passengers and drivers to wear a mask on
school buses.
Appropriate mask use (i.e., covering over face AND nose, correct fit across the face, and the correct
material used for masking) is essential to prevent transmission. See CDC guidance.
13. What kind of mask should students and staff wear at school? (Added 1/11/2022)
See the CDC guide to masks for more information on choosing an appropriate mask. IDPH also
recommends the following for students, staff, and other individuals in schools:
• Masking at work: Consider choosing from the list of masks reported to meet the new CDC
Workplace Performance standard. To date, CDC has identified only two brands that meet
the new recommended standards.
• Masking at school and in the community: Consider choosing from the list of masks reported
to meet the new ASTM standard for barrier face coverings. When possible, choose a surgical
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mask over a cloth mask.
4
5
6
When choosing cloth masks, make sure the mask is washable,
breathable, has at least two layers, and fits correctly.
o Any mask should fit snugly over the nose and chin with no large gaps around the side of
the face.
7
Ways to improve a mask’s fit include using a nose clip or nose wire, tying a
simple knot in the ear loops,
8
or using a brace over the mask to prevent leaks.
9
See
other suggestions from the CDC on ways to improve how a mask protects you.
o When choosing a cloth mask, look for those made of tightly woven fabrics with two or
more layers.
10
Scarves and other loosely woven fabrics offer less protection.
o One way to ensure a mask has enough layers is to wear two.
11
For example, wear a two-
layer cotton mask over a surgical mask.
14. Are masks required during extracurricular activities? (Updated 1/11/2022)
Yes, when indoors and outdoors for days 6 through 10 for an asymptomatic person returning from
five days of isolation, quarantine, or exclusion, or for 10 days for all individuals, regardless of
vaccination status, who were exposed to a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19. All teachers,
staff, students, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask while indoors at
school, including during sports and other extracurricular activities. All individuals who are currently
not being monitored as close contacts, regardless of vaccination status, may remove masks when
outdoors during sports and other extracurricular activities, except during activities that are crowded.
CDC recommends that people who are not fully vaccinated wear a mask in crowded outdoor
settings or during activities that involve sustained close contact with other people who are not fully
vaccinated, especially in communities with substantial to high transmission (see Question 78 below
for more information on levels of transmission). Those who are fully vaccinated may also wear
masks outdoors when in crowded environments, should they wish to do so.
See the IDPH sports guidelines for more information.
15. What is the primary purpose of a mask?
4
Sharm, A., Omidvarborna, H., & Kumar, P. (2021). Efficacy of facemaks in mitigating respiratory exposure to submicron
aerosols. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 422, 126783. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126783
5
Patra, S. S., Nath, J., Panda, S., Das, T., & Ramasamy, B. (2021). Evaluating the filtration efficiency of commercial facemasks’
materials against respiratory aerosol droplets. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 72(1), 3-9.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10962247.2021.1948459
6
Lindsley, W. G., Blachere, F. M., Beezhold, D. H., Law, B. F., Derk, R. C., Hettick, J. M., Woodfork, K., Goldsmith, W. T., Harris, J.
R., Duling, M. G., Boutin, B., Nurkieqicz, T., Boots, T., Coyle, J., & Noti, J. D. (2021). A comparison of performance metrics for
cloth masks as source control devices for simulated cough and exhalation aerosols. Aerosol Science and Technology, 55(10),
1125-1142. https://doi.org/10.1080/02786826.2021.1933377
7
Konda, A., Prakash, A., Moss, G. A., Schmoldt, M., Grant, G. D., & Guha, S. (2020). Aerosol filtration efficiency of common
fabrics used in respiratory cloth masks. ACS Nano, 14(5), 6339-6347. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.0c03252
8
Arumuru, V., Sankar Samantaray, S., & Pasa, J. (2021). Double masking protection vs. comfort – A quantitative assessment.
Physics of Fluids, 33, 077120. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0058571
9
Runde, D. P., Harland, K. K., Van Heukelom, P., Faine, B., O’Shaughnessy, P., & Mohr, N. M. (2020). The :double eights mask
brace” improves the fit and protection of a basic surgical mask amidst COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of the American College of
Emergency Physicians, 2(1), e12335. https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.12335
10
Pan, J., Harb, C., Leng, W., & Marr, L. C. (2021). Inward and outward effectiveness of cloth masks, a surgical mask, and a face
shield. Aerosol Science and Technology, 55(6), 718-733. https://doi.org/10.1080/02786826.2021.1890687
11
Arumuru, Sankar Samantaray, & Pasa, 2021: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0058571
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Masks act as a simple barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and
onto other people when the person wearing the mask coughs, sneezes, talks, or raises their voice.
This is called source control. The primary purpose of a mask is to prevent the wearer from
potentially exposing or infecting others. To be effective, masks must be worn properly and must
completely cover both the nose and mouth.
According to the CDC scientific brief on community use of cloth masks to control the spread of SARS-
CoV-2, there are at least 10 studies confirming the benefit of masks, with each analysis
demonstrating that “following directives from organizational and political leadership for universal
masking, new infections fell significantly.” The research shared in the brief also supports that “mask
wearing has no significant adverse health effects for wearers,” including no change in oxygen or
carbon dioxide levels and minimal impacts on respiration.
16. How should cloth masks be cleaned and stored?
Personal cloth masks should be taken home, laundered daily, dried in a dryer, and reused. Do not
launder N95 or surgical masks. Personal masks should be stored between uses in a clean sealable
paper bag or breathable container.
17. When should a mask be changed?
Masks must be changed immediately if soiled, wet, or torn.
18. What are the recommendations as to when a mask may be removed for students and staff?
Executive Order 2021-18 requires universal indoor masking for all teachers, students, staff, and
visitors to pre-K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. However, masks may be temporarily
removed at school in the following circumstances:
● When eating.
● For children while they are napping with close monitoring to ensure no child leaves their
designated napping area without putting their mask back on.
● For staff when alone in classrooms or offices with the door closed.
● For staff and students when they are outdoors. However, particularly in areas of substantial
to high transmission, per CDC COVID Data Tracker or IDPH’s COVID-19 County & School
Metrics, staff and students who are not fully vaccinated should wear a mask in crowded
outdoor settings or during activities that involve sustained close contact with other people
who are not fully vaccinated.
19. What PPE is required by school nurses who are assessing a student or staff member reporting
COVID-19-like symptoms?
If the nurse is screening a sick individual, it will be safest for them to be wearing a fit-tested N95
respirator, eye protection with face shield or goggles, gown, and gloves. When performing clinical
evaluation of a sick individual, school nurses will use enhanced droplet and contact transmission-
based precautions. Staff performing this evaluation should use appropriate personal protective
equipment (PPE) including:
● Fit-tested N95 respirator
● Eye protection with face shield or goggles
Page 13 of 34
● Gown
● Gloves
Any staff member who may be involved in the assessment or clinical evaluation of a student or staff
member with COVID-19-like symptoms should be trained on the type of PPE required and how to
don (put on) and doff (remove) it correctly and safely.
Respirators, such as N95s, must be used as part of a written respiratory protection program.
12
OSHA
requires that N95 respirators be fit tested prior to use. This is an important step to ensure a tight fit
for the respirator to be effective in providing protection. If a fit-tested N95 respirator is not
available, the next safest levels of respiratory protection include, in the following order: a non-fit-
tested N95 respirator, a KN95 respirator on the FDA-approved list,
13
14
15
or a surgical mask.
20. What are the recommendations on using a face shield in lieu of a mask?
Because respiratory droplets may be expelled from the sides and bottom of face shields, they do
not provide adequate 'source control' and should only be used as a substitute for face coverings in
the following limited circumstances:
● Individuals who are under the age of 2.
● Individuals who are unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the cover
without assistance.
● Individuals who provide a health care provider’s note as documentation that they have a
medical contraindication (a condition that makes masking absolutely inadvisable) to wearing
a face covering.
● Teachers needing to show facial expressions where it is important for students to see how a
teacher pronounces words (e.g., English learners, early childhood, foreign language, etc.).
However, teachers will be required to resume wearing face coverings as soon as possible.
Preferred alternatives to teachers wearing face shields include clear face coverings or video
instruction. There must be strict adherence to physical distancing when a face shield is
utilized.
21. How should schools handle students who cannot tolerate a face covering or a face shield due to a
medical contraindication? (Updated 1/11/2022)
Students who are unable to wear a face covering or face shield due to a medical contraindication
may not be denied access to in-person education. Staff working with students who are unable to
wear a face covering or shield due to a medical contraindication should wear approved and
appropriate PPE based on job specific duties and risks and maintain physical distancing as much as
12
https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.134
13
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-emergency-use-authorizations-medical-
devices/personal-protective-equipment-euas#appendixa
14
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/international-respirator-purchase.html
15
https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NASN/3870c72d-fff9-4ed7-833f-
215de278d256/UploadedImages/PDFs/03182020_NASN_Facemask_Considerations_for_Healthcare_Professionals_in_Schools.
pdf
Page 14 of 34
possible. Other students should also remain physically distant from students who are unable to wear
a face covering or face shield due to a medical contraindication. Those unable to wear a well-fitted
mask should be excluded for 10 days.
22. What are the recommendations on using a neck warmer in lieu of a cloth mask?
It is not known if athletic face coverings/neck warmers provide any benefit as source control to
protect others from the spray of respiratory particles. CDC guidance allows neck warmers (e.g.,
gaiters) if they are at least two layers or fold into at least two layers.
23. What kind of PPE is required for staff who clean areas used by a suspected or known COVID-19
case?
If a janitor is cleaning an area used by a suspected or known COVID-19 case, it is safest for them to
wear a fit-tested N95 respirator, eye protection with face shield or goggles, gown, and gloves.
24. Can clear masks be utilized?
While cloth masks are encouraged to reduce the spread of COVID-19, CDC recognizes there are
specific instances when wearing a cloth mask may not be feasible. In these instances, parents,
guardians, caregivers, teachers, staff, and school administrators should consider adaptations and
alternatives whenever possible. They may need to consult with health care providers for advice
about wearing cloth masks and any available adaptations or alternatives.
People who are deaf or hard of hearing—or those who care for or interact with a person who is
hearing impaired—may be unable to wear cloth masks if they rely on lip-reading to communicate.
This may be particularly relevant for faculty or staff teaching or working with students who may be
deaf or hard of hearing. In this situation, faculty and staff should consider using a clear mask that
covers the nose and wraps securely around the face. If a clear mask is not available, consider
whether faculty and staff can use written communication (including closed captioning) and decrease
background noise to improve communication while wearing a cloth mask that blocks their lips.
In addition to those who interact with people who are deaf or hard of hearing, the following groups
of teachers and staff may also consider using clear masks:
● Teachers of young students (e.g., teaching young students to read).
● Teachers of students who are English language learners.
● Teachers of students with disabilities.
Physical Distancing
25. What are the CDC’s physical distancing recommendations for individuals in classrooms?
CDC recommends schools maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within
classrooms, combined with universal indoor mask wearing, to reduce transmission risk. Because of
the importance of in-person learning, schools where not everyone is fully vaccinated should
implement physical distancing to the extent possible within their structures (in addition to masking
and other prevention strategies) but should not exclude students from in-person learning to keep a
minimum distance requirement.
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26. What additional prevention measures should schools adopt if maintaining physical distancing of
at least 3 feet between students is not feasible in their facilities?
When it is not possible to maintain recommended physical distance of at least 3 feet between
students, 6 feet between students and teachers/staff, and 6 feet between teachers/staff who are
not fully vaccinated, such as when schools cannot fully re-open while maintaining these distances,
the other layered prevention strategies play an even more critical role. Universal indoor masking
(required for everyone in pre-K-12 schools); screening testing; cohorting; improved ventilation;
handwashing; covering coughs and sneezes; staying home when sick with symptoms of infectious
illness, including COVID-19; and regular cleaning and disinfecting can help reduce transmission risk.
27. What are the CDC’s physical distancing recommendations for cafeterias and other areas where
food is consumed?
Schools should maximize physical distance as much as possible when students are moving through
the food service line and while eating (especially indoors). Using additional spaces outside of the
cafeteria for mealtime seating, such as the gymnasium or outdoor seating, can help facilitate
distancing. Schools may wish to consider “staggering” schedules for arrivals/dismissals, hall passing
periods, mealtimes, bathroom breaks, etc., to ensure the safety of unvaccinated students and staff.
Additionally, risk of transmission may be decreased by improved ventilation strategies per CDC
guidance, such as open windows and fans (weather permitting). Staff and students should abstain
from physical contact, including, but not limited to, handshakes, high fives, and hugs.
Testing
28. Is COVID-19 testing required for unvaccinated school personnel?
Yes. Beginning September 19, 2021, school personnel who are not fully vaccinated must be tested
for COVID-19 at least weekly until they are fully vaccinated. If a school is experiencing an outbreak
of COVID-19 and school personnel who are not fully vaccinated may be part of the outbreak, as
determined by public health authorities, such school personnel must be tested two times per week
for the duration of that outbreak.
29. What tests may be used for unvaccinated school personnel?
School personnel who are not fully vaccinated must be tested for COVID-19 with either a Nucleic
Acid Amplification Test (NAAT), including PCR tests, or an antigen test that either has emergency use
authorization by the FDA or is operating per the Laboratory Developed Test requirements by the
CMS. The Illinois Department of Public Health recommends PCR testing with less than 48-hour
turnaround time. Note that the state’s free school testing programs are currently being prioritized
for testing students and should not be utilized for testing unvaccinated school personnel.
30. For how long will school personnel who are not fully vaccinated need to submit to testing?
All school personnel who are not fully vaccinated must submit to at least weekly testing beginning
September 19, 2021, and must continue to submit to at least weekly testing until they are fully
vaccinated.
Page 16 of 34
31. If a school does not operate a testing program, are school personnel required to pay for testing?
A school may, but is not required to, reimburse school personnel for testing performed outside of
school using state or local funds, subject to applicable local collective bargaining agreement
provisions. Federal funds may be used to purchase appropriate tests and for test administration
costs. However, a school may not use federal funds to reimburse school personnel for tests
procured by them outside of the school setting. Generally speaking, testing is covered by health
insurance, though school personnel should check with their insurance provider. For additional
information, see the IDPH Interim Guidance on Testing for COVID-19 in Community Settings and
Schools.
32. May unvaccinated school personnel purchase and self-administer a test and provide test results to
the school for required weekly screening for unvaccinated staff?
Yes, though a school may determine its own requirements for test reporting. At-home tests or self-
test kits for COVID-19 are available for purchase from retail pharmacies or other outlets. Some of
these tests require supervision or proctoring through telehealth, who will then confirm the identity
of the person taking the test (e.g., by showing photo ID), while others are fully self-administered. For
schools and school districts, at-home or self-tests that are fully self-administered are permissible
when the school or school district requires proof of the test result through a video or picture of the
test result to be available upon request from the school personnel. If schools or school districts
choose to allow their school personnel to use at-home tests that are self-administered to attest to
their negative status, they should be aware of the limitations of these tests, such as inadvertent
improper administration and difficulty in verifying the reported results against the individual’s
identity. Over-the-counter tests are not recommended for students or staff excluded due to COVID-
19-like symptoms (see Question 45).
33. How can school personnel who are not fully vaccinated provide proof of a negative test?
As required by Executive Order 2021-22, school personnel must be tested on site at their workplace
or submit proof or confirmation of a negative test obtained elsewhere. Such proof should include a
paper or electronic copy of the negative test result for review by the school. There should be
sufficient personally identifiable information on the test result to ensure the specimen and result do
in fact apply to individual required to test.
CDC guidance for verifying a qualifying negative test result for air travelers indicates that test results
must be in the form of written documentation (paper or electronic copy) and must include the
following:
1. Type of test (indicating it is a NAAT or antigen test).
2. Entity issuing the result (e.g., laboratory, health care entity, or telehealth service).
3. Specimen collection date. A negative test result must show the specimen was collected
within the three days before the flight. A positive test result for documentation of recovery
from COVID-19 must show the specimen was collected within the three months before the
flight.
4. Information that identifies the person (full name plus at least one other identifier such as
date of birth or passport number).
5. Test result.
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34. What happens if school personnel undergoing at least weekly testing for COVID-19 receives a
positive result? (Updated 1/11/2022)
School personnel who test positive for COVID-19 should immediately isolate at home. Schools must
exclude school personnel who are a confirmed case or probable case for five days after the first day
of symptoms or the date of the positive viral test for asymptomatic persons. Individuals may return
to school after five days if asymptomatic or if symptoms are resolving and must wear a mask at all
times around others for five more days.
35. Must a school exclude unvaccinated school personnel who are testing in accordance with
applicable testing requirements while they are awaiting test results?
No. Schools may permit school personnel awaiting weekly test results to be on school premises, so
long as the school personnel is not considered a close contact to a confirmed or probable case and is
not exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.
36. How can testing be used to support in-person instruction? (Updated 1/11/2022)
Screening tests for COVID-19 can support in-person learning by identifying infected persons who are
asymptomatic and without known or suspected exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Screening tests are
performed to identify persons who may be contagious so that measures can be taken to prevent
further transmission. Screening testing should be offered to students who have not been fully
vaccinated when community transmission is at moderate, substantial, or high levels (Table 1 in the
CDC guidance: “Screening Testing Recommendations for K-12 Schools by Level of Community
Transmission”).
IDPH recommends schools acquire parental consent for student testing in advance to accommodate
outbreak testing, should the need arise. For schools partnering with SHIELD Illinois for weekly
screening, outbreak testing is included in the testing program. For districts without weekly
screening, outbreak only testing through SHIELD Illinois is available by completing this interest form:
https://bit.ly/3mMejKH. However, prioritization of outbreak testing will be given to districts with
weekly screening programs. Schools that fulfill the requirements to implement point-of-care testing
as outlined in the IDPH Interim Guidance on Testing for COVID-19 in Community Settings and
Schools can also utilize BinaxNOW rapid antigen testing for their outbreak response. BinaxNOW
tests can be requested by emailing dph.antigentesting@illinois.gov.
The state has made COVID-19 testing available free of charge to all schools in Illinois through
SHIELD Illinois. Those interested in establishing a K-12 testing program using the SHIELD Illinois
saliva test should complete this interest form: https://bit.ly/interestedSHIELD. Note: SHIELD Illinois
is also able to offer BinaxNOW rapid antigen tracking along with its standard weekly saliva testing
program. (See the IDPH Interim Guidance on Testing for COVID-19 in Community Settings and
Schools for complete information on testing.)
Additionally, testing can be used to keep students in school when identified as classroom close
contact through the Test to Stay protocol.
37. How can testing be used to support participation in extracurricular activities?
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To facilitate safe participation in sports, extracurricular activities, and other activities with elevated
risk (such as activities that involve singing, shouting, band, and exercise that could lead to increased
exhalation), CDC recommends schools implement screening testing for participants who are not
fully vaccinated. According to the CDC, schools should routinely test student athletes, extracurricular
participants, coaches, and trainers, and other people (such as adult volunteers) who are not fully
vaccinated and could come into close contact with others during these activities. To protect in-
person learning at school, CDC recommends that sports that involve sustained close contacts with
others and extracurricular activities that involve singing, shouting, band, or exercise, especially when
conducted indoors, should be virtual or canceled in areas of high community transmission, unless all
participants are fully vaccinated and can maintain social distancing or masking during related
activities. For more information on sports, see the IDPH sports guidelines. For additional information
on CDC K-12 screening testing recommendations, see table 1 of the new CDC Guidance for COVID-19
Prevention in K-12 Schools.
38. When a student is tested outside of school, can the school be notified of a confirmed or probable
case as quickly as possible?
Schools should ask parents/guardians to notify the school as quickly as possible of any confirmed or
probable COVID-19 cases. It is important that schools communicate this expectation to
parents/guardians early and often. The local health department (LHD) will also receive a report of a
confirmed or probable case from either a lab or provider. However, the report does not necessarily
include school information (unless the school was the test submitter). This means that the LHD must
obtain this information by interviewing the case/parent/legal guardian. The LHD will notify the
school as soon as they have acquired the school information. Schools should identify a point of
contact for LHDs, including someone who can be reached after hours.
39. If a student or staff member presents a note from a health provider or negative COVID-19 test
result, for how many days is that test result valid?
A negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is valid only for the day on which it was reported. It
denotes that on the day that the sample was collected, the individual being tested did not have any
detectable virus in their system. Because the incubation period (time from exposure to infection) for
COVID-19 is 2-14 calendar days, a person with a negative test may still develop infection at some
point during the incubation period.
40. When is a confirmatory PCR test required for possible cases in the school setting? (Updated
1/11/2022)
As shown in the CDC’s testing algorithm (see Figure 1) and referenced in IDPH’s Rapid Point-of-Care
Testing for COVID-19 in Community Settings and Schools, confirmatory testing for antigen and rapid
NAATs is sometimes required when the results are different than what is expected (e.g., positive
result in an asymptomatic person with no known exposure). In these circumstances, CDC
recommends a lab-based (non-rapid) NAAT (such as a PCR) from a nasal specimen.
Results from COVID-19 point-of-care (POC) antigen tests should be interpreted based upon the test
sensitivity and specificity, whether the individual being tested has symptoms, and level of
Page 19 of 34
transmission in the community and the facility. A confirmatory NAAT may be needed in certain
situations. Because laboratory-based NAATs are considered the most sensitive tests for detecting
SARS-CoV-2, they can also be used to confirm the results of lower sensitivity tests, such as POC
NAATs, or antigen tests such as BinaxNOW. While the SHIELD Illinois saliva test is a highly reliable
laboratory-based NAAT and does not require an additional confirmatory test when used as a
primary diagnostic test, CDC recommends collecting and testing an upper respiratory specimen,
such as nasopharyngeal, nasal mid-turbinate, or anterior nasal, when using NAATs for confirmatory
testing. An upper respiratory test, such as a BinaxNOW rapid antigen test, should be confirmed by a
laboratory-based NAAT test performed on an upper-respiratory specimen.
When considering if school personnel or students need to be excluded from in-person learning for a
period of time due to COVID-19-like symptoms, if the school personnel/student is a close contact to
a confirmed or probable case, the school is experiencing an outbreak, or the local health
department (LHD) is requiring validation due to community transmission levels, documentation of a
negative NAAT (e.g., RT-PCR) COVID-19 test result is needed. The SHIELD Illinois saliva test is a RT-
PCR and can be used in these situations. If the student/school personnel does not have a known
close contact, the school is not in outbreak, or the LHD is not requiring confirmatory testing due to
the level of community transmission, a negative RT-PCR, rapid molecular (rapid PCR) or negative
antigen test is acceptable. (With low pre-test probability, NAAT testing [e.g., PCR] following a
negative antigen test is not required.)
A confirmatory PCR test is not recommended after a positive RT-PCR result.
41. Do fully vaccinated persons need to be tested? (Updated 1/11/2022)
It depends on the circumstances, per CDC’s guidance.
● If a fully vaccinated or boosted person develops symptoms of COVID-19, they should be
tested, isolated, and excluded from school.
● If a fully vaccinated or boosted student or staff has close contact with a confirmed case of
COVID-19, they should be tested at least five days after the exposure but are not required to
be excluded as long as they remain asymptomatic, test negative if tested, and have
received all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including boosters (if 18 or older) and
additional primary doses for some immunocompromised people.
● If a fully vaccinated staff or student attends a school or classroom that is currently
experiencing an outbreak, that student or staff may have been exposed and should be
tested as part of the school’s outbreak testing response.
● If a school is conducting screening testing of asymptomatic persons, then a fully vaccinated
or boosted (if eligible) person should not be tested as part of screening testing unless
recommended to do so in certain situations of heightened transmission risk, such as with
some sports activities (see Question 37 for more information on screening testing for
sports).
Management of Ill Students and Staff
42. Do schools need to conduct temperature checks and symptom screening and/or require parents
to provide attestation of negative symptom screening on a daily basis?
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No. Both the CDC and IDPH no longer recommend fever and symptom screening or attestation of
symptom screening upon arrival at school. Instead, self-screening for symptoms of COVID-19 and
other common respiratory viruses and ailments, prior to arriving on school grounds or boarding
school transportation, continues to be recommended. Schools should continue to post signage and
communicate with students and staff that they are discouraged from entering buildings or boarding
school transportation if ill.
43. What actions should be taken by students/staff sent home with COVID-19-like symptoms?
(Updated 1/11/2022)
● All students and staff (regardless of vaccination status) excluded with COVID-19-like
symptoms should be diagnostically tested with a PCR or rapid antigen or molecular test with
emergency use authorization by the FDA. Rapid antigen tests are acceptable for
symptomatic individuals. Schools must exclude any student or staff that exhibit symptoms
of COVID-19 (1) until they test negative for COVID-19 (home testing is not acceptable) or for
a minimum of 5 days, (2) until they are fever free for 24 hours, and symptoms are
improving, and (3) until 24 hours after diarrhea and vomiting have ceased AND must be able
to wear a well-fitted mask through Day 10 at all times.
● At schools where testing is available, individuals should be tested before being sent home
with COVID-19-like symptoms. If negative for COVID-19, students may return when if fever
free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication, diarrhea/vomiting have ceased for 24
hours, and other symptoms have improved. Even if not related to COVID-19, several other
communicable diseases, such as influenza and norovirus, can cause similar symptoms and
warrant exclusion from school until symptoms resolve. For all other symptoms, students can
return to school if they test negative for COVID-19 within 48 hours after symptom onset.
● Students and staff who are confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 must be excluded from
school and may not return until asymptomatic or symptoms have improved (fever free
without fever reducing medication, diarrhea/vomiting ceased for 24 hours, and other
symptoms have improved) and at least after five calendar days have passed from the date of
specimen collection of the positive test (Day 0) if asymptomatic or following onset of
symptoms if symptomatic (Day 0) or as otherwise directed by the local health department
AND mask consistently through day 10. Individuals who meet the above criteria may return
to school even if other household members are in isolation or quarantine in the home as
long as they mask consistently through day 10.
● Students and staff with COVID-19-like symptoms who do not get tested for COVID-19, must
be excluded for five calendar days from the date of first symptom onset and be fever-free
for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medications, vomiting and diarrhea ceased for 24
hours, and other symptoms have improved before returning to school and will be allowed to
return to school as long as they wear a well-fitted mask through day 10. If symptoms persist,
they should remain home up to 10 days.
● COVID-19 diagnostic testing is strongly recommended for all persons with COVID-19-like
symptoms.
44. If a student is sent home sick with suspected COVID-19 symptoms (e.g., cough, fever, diarrhea,
shortness of breath, etc.), must all their siblings/household members be sent home as well?
(Updated 1/11/2022)
Page 21 of 34
If the ill household member is tested within 24 hours of first notification of symptoms, household
members do not need to be sent home unless there is a high suspicion the ill person has COVID-19
(e.g., they are a known close contact, they have lost sense of taste and smell). Pending test results,
household members can remain in school with consistent use of well-fitting masks both indoors, as
required, and outdoors. If the ill household member tests positive for COVID-19, then any household
members who are unvaccinated or unboosted (if eligible) should be removed from the school
immediately. If testing does not occur within 24 hours, unvaccinated household members must be
excluded per the Public Health Interim Guidance for Local Health Departments and Pre-K-12 Schools
– COVID-19 Exclusion Protocols (“COVID-19 Exclusion Protocols”).
45. How many symptoms does a person need to have to be considered a suspect COVID-19 case?
Students and staff exhibiting one or more COVID-19-like symptoms are considered suspect cases
and should be immediately isolated and evaluated. Schools should evaluate each symptomatic
student/staff to determine if this symptom is new or if it is part of an existing condition.
The COVID-19 Exclusion Protocols and CDC Screening in K-12 were recently updated to limit the
symptoms for which students should be screened for suspect COVID-19 infection. Many symptoms
of COVID-19 are also symptoms of common illnesses like seasonal allergies, colds, and chronic
conditions like asthma. To prevent potentially excluding students repeatedly, the list of symptoms
has been limited to those most likely to be part of an infectious syndrome. However, if a
student/staff has a COVID-19 symptom not listed on the COVID-19 Exclusion Protocols, but the
school health staff has an increased concern due to community spread or known close contact (as
shown in Box A and Box B of the COVID-19 Exclusion Protocols), the school health staff should
exclude the individual and require testing or an alternative diagnosis for return.
46. What temperature is the fever threshold to be considered a symptom of COVID-19 and for the
purposes of sending ill students and staff home?
CDC recommends that schools use 100.4
o
F or greater as the threshold for fever.
47. What are the recommendations for someone who has previously tested positive for COVID-19?
(Updated 1/11/2022)
For those who have had prior diagnoses of COVID-19 confirmed by viral testing within three months,
exclusion is not needed. If they develop COVID-like illness, they should be excluded and be tested.
Contract Tracing, Exclusion and Quarantine
48. How are close contacts determined in school? (Updated 1/11/2022)
Contact tracing is used by local health departments (LHDs) and schools to prevent the spread of
infectious diseases. In general, contact tracing involves identifying people who have a confirmed or
probable case of COVID-19 (cases) and people who they came in contact with (close contacts) and
working with them to interrupt disease spread. This includes asking people with COVID-19 to isolate
and their contacts to quarantine at home voluntarily. Persons who have completed COVID-19
primary vaccine series and are under 18, and persons 18 and over who have completed their
primary series and recommended vaccine doses, including boosters and additional primary shots for
Page 22 of 34
some immunocompromised people, and remain asymptomatic, and those with documented COVID-
19 infection within the past 90 days, are exempted from quarantine or exclusion. However, the
updated CDC guidance recommends that fully vaccinated persons test at least five days after the
known exposure and wear a mask in public indoor settings for 10 days after exposure.
CDC defines a close contact as an individual who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a
cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. This does not include students in a
classroom setting (indoors or outdoors) between 3 and 6 feet who are both consistently and
correctly masked. If either the case or contact was not consistently masked, then close contacts
include students in a classroom setting who were within 3-6 feet of an infected student for a
cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. Students exposed at less than 3 feet
are close contacts regardless of masking. For individuals on school transportation, IDPH and ISBE
recommend that contacts exposed to an infected person within 3 to 6 feet do not require exclusion
as long as both the case and the contact were consistently and correctly masked during the entire
exposure period and windows were opened or HEPA filters were in use. These individuals may
benefit from participating in Test to Stay. (For complete details on TTS, see Interim Guidance on
Testing for COVID-19 in Community Settings and Schools.)
Students aged 5-17 who have not completed the primary series of the vaccine are close contacts
who should quarantine or be excluded from school if exposed to a confirmed or probable case of
COVID-19. Individuals (age 18 and older if eligible) who have received primary doses of a COVID-19
vaccine but have not received recommended booster doses are close contacts who should be
excluded from school if exposed to a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19.
In general, individuals who are solely exposed to a confirmed case while outdoors should not be
considered close contacts. Schools may coordinate with their LHD to determine the necessity of
exclusion for higher-risk outdoor exposures.
The longer a person is exposed to an infected person, the higher the risk of
exposure/transmission. The infectious period of close contact begins two calendar days before the
onset of symptoms (for a symptomatic person) or two calendar days before the positive sample was
obtained (for an asymptomatic person). If the case was symptomatic (e.g., coughing, sneezing),
persons with briefer periods of exposure may also be considered contacts, as determined by LHDs.
Persons who have had lab-confirmed COVID-19 within the past 90 days or those fully vaccinated,
according to CDC guidelines, are not considered close contacts and do not need to be excluded from
school unless they exhibit COVID-19-like symptoms.
49. Who will do contact tracing?
Schools are required to investigate the occurrence of cases and suspect cases in schools and identify
close contacts for purposes of determining whether students or school personnel must be excluded
pursuant to Executive Order 2022-03 and 77 Ill. Admin. Code 690.361.
Contact tracing will also be performed by the local health department (LHD), sometimes in
partnership with IDPH or a community-based organization. Schools can assist the LHD by identifying
all close contacts to a confirmed case. Both schools and any other third parties are required,
pursuant to the state’s regulations, to cooperate in the LHD’s disease investigation and contact
tracing initiatives. Cooperation with contact tracing and disease investigation by parents/guardians
Page 23 of 34
and other individuals can help ensure infection control measures are being maximized.
Documentation of assigned seats and taking photos of assembled classes can be useful in helping
schools determine who was within 6 feet of a given case.
Schools must be aware of confidentiality laws pertaining to school student records, including
exceptions for release of information in the event of an emergency and requirements to notify
parents and to create a record of emergency releases of information. (105 ILCS 10/6(a)(7); 23 Il.
Admin. Code 375.60).
50. Is contact tracing only performed when a positive test is received?
Contact tracing is performed for a confirmed case (positive PCR test) or a probable case (positive
antigen test OR person with clinically compatible COVID-19-like symptoms and epidemiologically
linked
2
via known exposure to a confirmed case.
51. If a confirmed or probable COVID-19 case is identified in a classroom, or on a school bus, who will
be considered close contacts that need to be excluded? Will this include the entire classroom or
all the students on the bus? (Updated 1/11/2022)
Individuals who are 5 to 17 and have completed COVID-19 primary vaccine series, and persons 18
and older who have completed their primary series and recommended vaccine doses, including
boosters and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people, do not need to be
excluded but should get tested at least five days after coming into close contact with someone with
COVID-19 and wear a mask around others for 10 days. If symptoms develop, they should isolate and
get tested immediately. For others not meeting the above criteria on school transportation, contacts
exposed to an infected person within 3 to 6 feet do not require exclusion as long as both the case
and the contact were consistently and correctly masked for the entire exposure period and windows
were opened allowing for good ventilation (front, middle, back, or overhead) or HEPA filters were in
use.
16
17
18
52. Do vaccinated students and staff have to be excluded after an exposure to a case? (Updated
1/11/2022)
A student aged 5-17 years who completed the primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine or students and
staff aged 18 years and older who have received all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses,
including boosters and additional primary doses for some immunocompromised people do not need
to be excluded after an exposure but should be tested on day 5 and, after returning to school,
16
Ramirez, D. W. E., Klinkhammer, M. D., & Rowland, L. C. (2021). COVID-19 transmission during transportation of 1
st
to 12
th
grade students: Experience of an independent school in Virginia. Journal of School Health, 91(9), 678-682.
https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.13058
17
Lindsley, W. G., Derk, R. C., Coyle, J. P., Martin, Jr., S. B., Mead, K. R., Blachere, F. M., Beezhold, D. H., Brooks, J. T., Boots, T., &
Noti, J. D. (2021). Efficacy of portable air cleaners and masking for reducing indoor exposure to simulated exhaled SARS-CoV-2
aerosols – United States, 2021. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 70, 972-976.
http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7027e1
18
Gettings, J., Czarnik, M., Morris, E., Haller, E., Thompson-Paul, A. M., Rasberry, C., Lanzieri, T. M., Smith-Grant, J., Aholou, T.
M., Thomas, E., Drenzek, C., & MacKellar, D. (2021). Mask use and ventilation improvements to reduce COVID-19 incidence in
elementary schools – Georgia, November 16-December 11, 2020. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 70, 779-784.
http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7021e1
Page 24 of 34
should wear a well-fitting mask around others for five more days. The individual should be excluded
if symptoms develop.
53. Does an individual with positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing need to be excluded if identified as
a close contact? (Updated 1/11/2022)
Yes. Antibody testing should not be promoted as a way to avoid exclusion. The robustness and
durability of immunity following natural infection remain unknown.
Serologic testing does not replace virologic testing and should not be used to establish the presence
or absence of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, nor should it be used to determine immunity after
vaccination or to determine if vaccination is needed in an unvaccinated person.
54. If a student or staff member is identified as a close contact to a person with COVID-19 and is
excluded from school, are their household members and close contacts also required to be
excluded?
No. Contacts of a person who is a close contact to a COVID-19 case (i.e., contacts to contacts) do not
need to be excluded or self-quarantine unless they develop symptoms or if the person identified as
the close contact develops COVID-19. They should, however, monitor themselves closely for
symptoms of COVID-19 and if they become symptomatic, self-isolate and seek medical
evaluation/testing.
55. What are best practices for exclusion and quarantine? (Added 1/11/2022)
Local health departments are the final authority with regard to quarantine recommendations. They
are best positioned to make these recommendations for setting quarantine timeframes for
exposures outside of the school. Local health departments are ultimately responsible for protecting
the health of their communities and understand best the practices and compliance efforts within
their communities.
For close contacts identified within the school setting during the school day, Test to Stay (TTS) is the
preferred method because it keeps children in school and includes testing that will identify new
positives quickly.
19
(For complete details on TTS, see Interim Guidance on Testing for COVID-19 in
Community Settings and Schools.) For close contacts not consenting to TTS or for exposures
occurring during extracurricular activities, a five-day exclusion is required, followed by five
additional days of masking at all times around others As recommended by CDC in updated guidance
for quarantine and isolation, IDPH and ISBE do not recommend exclusion periods longer than five
days for school exposures unless clinically recommended by their medical provider due to certain
underlying medical conditions such as immunosuppression (i.e., a weakened immune system).
For household exposures, the local health department will assess the extent of ongoing exposure. If
quarantine and isolation can occur safely removing ongoing exposures, a five-day exclusion is
acceptable. If ongoing exposures cannot be avoided, exclusion for the close contact would not start
19
Nemoto, N., Dhillon, S., Fink, S., Holman, E. J., Keswani Cope, A., Dinh, T., Meadows, J., Taryal, D., Akindileni, F., Franck, M.,
Gelber, E., Bacci, L., Ahmed, S., Thomas, E. S., & Neatherlin, J. C. (2021). Evaluation of test to stay strategy on secondary and
tertiary transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in K-12 schools – Lake County, Illinois, August 9-October 29, 2021. Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly Report. http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm705152e2
Page 25 of 34
until the end of the positive case’s isolation period (5 days if fever free without fever reducing
medication, 24 hours with diarrhea/vomiting ceasing, and other symptoms have improved). After
this, a five-day exclusion is recommended followed by masking around others for an additional five
days. Students under age 18 with no symptoms of COVID-19 who received their primary series and
those 18 and older who have received their primary dose and all recommended COVID-19 vaccine
doses, including boosters, and additional primary doses for some immunocompromised people, are
exempt from exclusion but should wear a mask around others for 10 days. CDC also recommends all
exposed individuals test at least five days after exposure.
56. What restrictions on activities do students and staff have after completing exclusion or Test to
Stay, especially those returning after 5 days? (Updated 1/13/2022)
Students returning from exclusion may resume all activities as long as they remain asymptomatic
and mask at all times when around others for 10 days from their last exposure. This includes dining
periods, extracurricular activities and riding the bus. Students participating in Test to Stay should
avoid competitions and performances until the end of the testing period.
Schools should ensure that there is a plan for students or staff returning after 5 days to stay masked
at all times until day 10. During times in the school day when students or staff members may
typically remove masks indoors (such as during lunches, snacks, band practice, etc.), schools should
have a plan for them to adequately distance from others and ensure they wear their masks when
not actively participating in these activities (such as when they are not actively eating).
Cleaning and Disinfection
57. What kind of cleaning and disinfection for schools is recommended?
Schools should develop sanitation procedures per recommendations of the CDC, IDPH, and local
health departments. In April 2021, the CDC issued a scientific brief on SARS-CoV-2 and surface
transmission for indoor environments that concluded:
Routine cleaning performed effectively with soap or detergent, at least once per day, can
substantially reduce virus levels on surfaces. When focused on high-touch surfaces, cleaning with
soap or detergent should be enough to further reduce the relatively low transmission risk from
fomites in situations when there has not been a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19
indoors. In situations when there has been a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 indoors
within the last 24 hours, the presence of infectious virus on surfaces is more likely and therefore
high-touch surfaces should be disinfected.
20
Clean with products containing soap or detergent to reduce germs on surfaces and objects that will
remove contaminants and may weaken or damage some of the virus particles to decrease the risk of
infection from surfaces. Clean high-touch surfaces and shared objects at least once a day. For more
information on cleaning and disinfecting schools, see Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility.
20
Santarpia, J. L., Rivera, D. N., Herrera, V. L., Morwitzer, M. J., Creager, H. M., Santarpia, G. W., Crown, K. K., Brett-Major, D.
M., Schnaubelt, E. R., Broadhurst, M. J., & Lawler, J. V. (2020). Aerosol and surface contamination of SARS-CoV-2 observed in
quarantine and isolation care. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-69286-3
Page 26 of 34
Clean more frequently and disinfect surfaces and objects if certain conditions apply:
● High transmission of COVID-19 in your community.
● Low number of people wearing masks or improper mask usage.
● Infrequent hand hygiene.
● The space is occupied by people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
If someone in your school is sick or someone who has COVID-19 has been in your school in the last
24 hours, clean and disinfect the facility.
Ensure that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved disinfectants for use against
COVID-19 are available to staff responsible for cleaning.
Outbreaks
58. What is the definition of an outbreak in pre-K-12 schools?
CDC recommends that all states define school-associated outbreaks according to the standards
established by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE):
21
(A) “multiple cases
comprising at least 10% of students, teachers, or staff within a specified core group” (e.g.,
extracurricular activity, cohort group, classroom, before/after school care, etc.) or (B) “at least three
cases within a specified core group meeting criteria for a probable or confirmed school-associated
COVID-19 case (laboratory-positive by PCR or antigen testing) with symptom onset or positive test
within 14 calendar days of each other; who were not identified as close contacts of each other in
another setting outside of the school setting (i.e., household); and that are epidemiologically linked
2
in the school setting or a school-sanctioned activity.” As recommended by the CDC, IDPH is adopting
the CSTE definition of school-associated outbreaks for K-12 settings and applying the standard to all
school-based pre-K-12 settings. Schools should consult with their local health department (LHD) to
determine if their circumstances and cases constitute a school-associated outbreak, using either of
the definitions above as determined by the LHD. This would prompt an investigation by the LHD that
may result in recommendations for testing and quarantining of students/staff in the affected
classroom(s).
Outbreak testing is strongly recommended for schools in outbreak status. Implementation of
outbreak testing should begin as soon as possible from the date the outbreak is declared and at
least within three days. Schools should conduct twice weekly testing of all staff (regardless of
vaccination status) and students in impacted classroom(s), grade(s), and extracurricular activities, or,
depending on the circumstances, the entire student body, unless the LHD recommends otherwise. If
a student is linked to an outbreak setting, but not a close contact, those students must be tested
twice per week until the outbreak is over to continue participating in extracurricular activities,
including sports. Testing should continue until the school has gone two incubation periods, or 28
days, without identifying any new cases. If testing is not already in place for screening, schools
should make plans to deploy outbreak testing when needed. A listing of free testing sites is available
at https://dph.illinois.gov/testing. Additionally, SHIELD Illinois can be quickly deployed to a school
setting by emailing Beth Heller, senior director of External Affairs for SHIELD, at
21
Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. (2021, August 6). Standardized COVID-19 K-12 school surveillance guidance
for classification of clusters and outbreaks. Retrieved from https://preparedness.cste.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/CSTE-
Standardized-COVID-19-K-12-School-Surveillance-Guidance-for-Classification-of-Clusters-and-Outbreaks.pdf
Page 27 of 34
bheller@uillinois.edu. Schools can also utilize BinaxNOW rapid antigen testing for outbreak
response by emailing dph.antigentesting@illinois.gov.
59. If there is a large outbreak of COVID-19 within a school, what are the recommendations for
temporary school closure? (Updated 1/11/2022)
Pursuant to the superintendent’s declaration under Section 10-30 of the Illinois School Code, a
school or school district may only enter into an adaptive pause in consultation with the local health
department (LHD) and consistent with guidance or requirements from such LHD. In general, an
adaptive pause may not be necessary if the school follows all appropriate mitigation strategies.
When the large number of new cases makes it difficult for schools and LHDs to conduct prompt
investigations to identify and to exclude/quarantine close contacts, or if there is an unsafe
environment due to lack of masking and/or testing, adaptive pauses can be useful to ensure
individuals who are potentially infectious are excluded from school. Adaptive pauses using remote
learning may not be employed due to staffing shortages in schools. Schools taking adaptive pause
should pause from all activities, including extracurricular activities.
60. Are there alternative strategies to school closure during a large outbreak that may be considered
or employed? (Updated 1/11/2022)
School closure should be the absolute last resort to managing an outbreak due to the critical role of
in-person learning to students’ overall wellbeing. In general, an adaptive pause should not be
necessary if the school is following all appropriate mitigation strategies. If the school is following
guidance regarding masking, testing, identifying and excluding COVID-19 cases and their close
contacts, cleaning and optimizing ventilation then an adaptive pause should not be necessary to
mitigate an outbreak, and students are best served by continuing to provide in-person instruction.
In consultation with the local health department, a school may implement alternative strategies less
drastic than closure. Options might include:
• Transitioning the classroom or grade where the outbreak is occurring to remote learning,
especially where physical distancing is challenging (e.g., early childhood).
• Suspending affected classes or closing playgrounds.
• Canceling non-essential activities and meetings.
• Keeping students in constant class groups or classrooms and moving teachers routinely
between classes.
• Increasing spacing between students in classes.
• Shortening the school week.
• Staggering school start and lunch/break times across year groups or classes.
Communication and Reporting
61. Are schools required to report information to the local health department including cases, type
and onset of symptoms, number of exposed persons, etc.?
Yes. Schools must report information needed for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 infection to the
local health department for use in surveillance, contact tracing, and other public health activities.
Schools must be aware of records and confidentiality laws pertaining to school student records,
including exceptions to release of information in the event of an emergency, and requirements to
Page 28 of 34
notify parents and to create a record of emergency releases of information. (105 ILCS 10/6(a)(7); 23
Il. Admin. Code 375.60).
62. Is there a template letter for schools to use when notifying parents/guardians, students, and staff
of a case of COVID-19?
Yes, a template letter can be found here:
https://www.isbe.net/_layouts/Download.aspx?SourceUrl=/Documents/Case-School-sample-
letter.docx.
63. Is it a Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) violation to notify the LHD/IDPH or staff
and parents of a confirmed or probable case(s) in our school?
No. A laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19 is reportable within three hours to the local health
department per the Communicable Disease Code. Identifiable information on a student or staff
member, including name and contact information, is reportable to IDPH or to the local public health
authority for any notifiable disease or condition.
Schools must be aware of records and confidentiality laws pertaining to school student records,
including exceptions to release of information in the event of an emergency, and requirements
to notify parents and create a record of emergency releases of information. (105 ILCS 10/6(a)(7);
23 Il. Admin. Code 375.60).
64. Does contact tracing violate the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)?
No. The HIPAA Privacy Rule allows for reporting by covered entities to public health agencies for the
purpose of preventing the spread of infectious diseases. HIPAA recognizes the legitimate need for
public health authorities, and others responsible for ensuring public health and safety, to have
access to protected health information to carry out their public health mission.
22
23
24
25
65. If we have a case of COVID-19 in a student at our school, what is our responsibility for notifying
schools attended by siblings of the case?
There is no need to notify a school attended by siblings of a sick individual. If the sick individual tests
positive for COVID-19 or becomes a probable case, the local health department conducting contact
tracing will place siblings in quarantine and facilitate parental notification to the school(s) attended
by siblings of the case.
66. Besides public health authorities, who should be notified of a case of COVID-19 at our school?
Must we notify the entire district, or only the classroom or the building?
22
https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/public-
health/index.html#:~:text=Background%20The%20HIPAA%20Privacy%20Rule%20recognizes%20the%20legitimate,information
%20to%20carry%20out%20their%20public%20health%20mission
23
https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/hipaa-covid19/index.html
24
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html
25
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/transmission_k_12_schools.html
Page 29 of 34
Communication of a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 to the district and to the school
community should align with the school’s policy for notification of cases of communicable diseases.
The communication message should counter potential stigma and discrimination. It is critical to
maintain confidentiality of the student or staff member as required by the Americans with
Disabilities Act, the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, and the Illinois School Student Records
Act.
Special Situations/Other Groups
67. Can the school nurse administer nebulizer treatments on campus?
Where possible, nebulizer treatments should be scheduled to be administered at home or the
student may switch to metered dose inhalers with spacers for use at school. Nebulizer treatments, if
required to be administered at school, should be done in a separate room with only the school
nurse and student present. Nebulizer treatments should be administered to only one student at a
time. If a window or fan is available, open the window and vent the fan to blow out of the window.
The person administering the treatment should wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including
a fit-tested N95/KN95 respirator, a face shield or goggles, gown, and gloves. Hand hygiene (washing)
should be performed before donning (putting on) and after doffing (removing) PPE. Upon
completing the nebulizer treatment, the student should perform hand hygiene. The room should be
left vacant for a period of time (suggested minimum of two hours) then thoroughly cleaned and
disinfected. Consult with individual student health care providers, if applicable, and Individualized
Education Program (IEP) (teams to determine the best modality to meet students’ needs on an
individualized basis). Appropriate consents must be obtained for communication with outside
providers. Review IEPs, 504 Plans, asthma action plans, or individualized health plans to determine if
these plans will need to be amended or modified.
68. Playing of some music instruments and singing are recognized as ways COVID-19 can be spread
more easily by respiratory droplets. How can we prevent transmission in band or music classes?
All persons playing instruments in orchestra, band, and general music settings, or singing, dancing,
participating in color guard, or teaching must wear a washable or disposable, multi-layered face
covering or mask while indoors. Individuals playing aerosol-producing wind instruments should pull
down their mask, play the instrument (with a bell cover as necessary), then replace their mask over
their nose and mouth. Face coverings should only be completely removed while outdoors when
physical distance is maintained.
When indoors, reduce the number of singers and performers in ensembles and encourage physical
distance between different ensembles. A minimum 3-foot radius should be maintained between
singers and/or instrumentalists, regardless of vaccination status. Duration should also be
considered. A recent study found that limiting rehearsal times to 50 minutes or less significantly
reduced the quantity and spread of aerosols among the individuals involved.
26
When possible, music
classes held indoors should occur in well-ventilated spaces and, if possible, with windows open.
26
Weaver, J., Spede, M., Miller, S., & Srebric, J. (2021, July 9). International Coalition Performing Arts aerosol study: Updated
guidelines. Retrieved from https://nafme.org/international-coalition-performing-arts-aerosol-study-updates-guidelines-for-
music-education-classrooms/
Page 30 of 34
Additional guidance and technical resources for ventilation for acceptable indoor air quality is
available from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning Engineers.
Whenever possible, hold music classes outside. Outdoor rehearsal is the safest option. When
outdoors, masks and bell covers for instruments are not required. However, depending on local
transmission rates, mitigation efforts, including masking, may be implemented.
For additional guidance on music classes, see IDPH Interim COVID-19 Music Guidance.
To facilitate safe participation in extracurricular activities with elevated risk for COVID-19
transmission, such as activities that involve singing, shouting, band, and exercise that could lead to
increased exhalation, especially when conducted indoors, CDC recommends that schools implement
screening testing for participants who are not fully vaccinated. According to the CDC, participants
should test for COVID-19 at least weekly in areas with low or moderate transmission and at least
twice per week in areas with substantial transmission. To protect in-person learning, CDC
recommends that higher-risk extracurricular activities be virtual or canceled in areas of high
community transmission, unless all participants are fully vaccinated. For additional information on
CDC K-12 Screening Testing recommendations, see table 1 of the new CDC Guidance for COVID-19
Prevention in K-12 Schools.
69. Occasionally, students share music, equipment, and even instruments. How do we manage these
situations?
Avoid sharing instruments. If instruments must be shared (e.g., drums), they should be cleaned and
disinfected between students.
27
28
Music reeds and mouthpieces should not be shared. Note that
some instrument surfaces may be damaged by cleaning and disinfecting products. Contact your
instrument dealer for guidance on disinfection and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
cleaning. Discourage the sharing of music stands so that students do not inadvertently move closer
to each other to see the music.
70. If an athlete is diagnosed with COVID-19, is it up to the school to notify all other teams that the
athlete has been in contact with?
Yes. The school should make generic notifications to other schools and teams with which the
confirmed or probable COVID-19 athlete may have had contact without identifying the person’s
name. Provide minimal information to protect confidentiality, but enough for the school to respond
as needed. The local health department can assist in making this notification.
71. What is the role of the local health department in a situation involving an athlete diagnosed with
COVID-19? (Updated 1/11/2022)
The local health department (LHD) will conduct contact tracing to identify close contacts to the case
outside of the school setting (including household, physical, and sport-related) and place them in
quarantine for the recommended period of time.
27
https://www.nfhs.org/articles/covid-19-instrument-cleaning-guidelines/
28
https://issma.net/covidresources.php (Indiana guidance may vary from Illinois)
Page 31 of 34
Pursuant to 77 Ill. Admin. Code 690.361, schools must also conduct their own contact tracing in the
school to determine if students or school personnel must be excluded from school, extracurricular
events, or any other event organized by the school, regardless of whether an isolation or quarantine
order has been issued by the LHD, as required by Executive Order 2022-03.
Determining Prevention Strategies
72. How should schools apply the CDC’s recommended layered prevention strategies?
In alignment with CDC guidance, the state has issued an updated Executive Order 2021-18 that
requires masks be worn indoors by all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to pre-K-12 schools,
regardless of vaccination status. The state also requires all public and nonpublic schools to comply
with contact tracing, in combination with isolation and quarantine, as directed by state and local
health departments.
Following the FDA’s full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, this guidance has been
updated in alignment with Executive Order 2021-22, implemented by 23 Ill. Admin Code 6, which
requires that all school personnel receive the COVID-19 vaccine or submit to at least weekly testing.
Further, effective January 11, 2022 with the issuance of Executive Order 2022-03, schools and school
districts must exclude students and school personnel from school who are confirmed or probable
cases of COVID-19, who are close contacts to a case, or who exhibit COVID-19 like symptoms.
Additionally, the following COVID-19 prevention strategies remain critical to protect students and
community members who are not fully vaccinated, especially in areas of moderate-to-high
community transmission levels.
• Promoting vaccination among eligible students
• Physical distancing
• Screening testing to promptly identify cases, clusters, and outbreaks
• Ventilation
• Handwashing and respiratory etiquette
• Staying home when sick and getting tested
• Cleaning and disinfection
According to the CDC, children should return to full-time in-person learning with proper prevention
strategies in place. Understanding that schools and communities can be differently situated, the
updated K-12 guidance from the CDC stresses the importance of offering in-person learning,
regardless of whether all of the prevention strategies can be implemented at a particular school.
Schools should work with local public health officials to determine which prevention strategies are
needed in addition to the required strategies by evaluating local levels of community transmission
(i.e., low, moderate, substantial, or high; see Question 78 below) and local vaccine coverage (see
Question 79 below)., including county-level case rates and community vaccination rates, can be
found on IDPH’s website.
The CDC K-12 schools guidance references an array of prevention strategies in the context of
keeping students and staff safe: “Schools will have a mixed population of both people who are fully
vaccinated and people who are not fully vaccinated. Elementary schools primarily serve children
under 12 years of age who are not eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine at this time. Other schools (e.g.,
Page 32 of 34
middle schools, K-8 schools) may also have students who are not yet eligible for COVID-19
vaccination. These variations require K-12 administrators to make decisions about the use of COVID-
19 prevention strategies in their schools to protect people who are not fully vaccinated.”
If school administrators, in consultation with local public health officials, decide to remove any of
the recommended rather than required prevention strategies for their school based on local
conditions, they should remove them one at a time and monitor closely (with adequate testing
through the school and/or community) for any increases in COVID-19 cases. Required prevention
strategies may not be removed at any time. (Review IDPH answers to FAQs on COVID-19 testing in
schools for more information.) Schools should communicate their strategies and any changes in
plans to teachers, to staff, to families, and directly to older students, using accessible materials and
communication channels, in a language and at a literacy level that teachers, staff, students, and
families understand.
Here are educational examples to assist schools in determining how to use prevention strategies to
protect students and staff, as informed by local public health conditions:
● A school in a community with substantial (50-99 new cases per 100,000 population in the
last seven days) or high transmission (≥100 new cases per 100,000 population in the last
seven days), with low teacher, staff, or student vaccination coverage (e.g., <30% of eligible
population is fully vaccinated), and with a screening testing program in place may need to
lessen physical distancing to ensure all students can access in-person learning.
● A school in a community with substantial or high transmission, with a low teacher, staff, or
student vaccination rate, and without a student screening testing program, should continue
to maximize physical distancing and, in communities with high transmission, discontinue
sports that involve sustained close contacts with others, unless all participants are fully
vaccinated.
● A school in a community with moderate transmission (10-49 new cases per 100,000
population in the last seven days), with moderate vaccination coverage (e.g., 40-60% of
eligible population is fully vaccinated), and with a screening testing program in place could
decide to suspend screening testing for the general student body but will continue screening
for unvaccinated staff and students involved in higher-risk extracurricular activities until
vaccine coverage increases or transmission decreases or both.
● A school in a community with low transmission (<10 new cases per 100,000 population in
the last seven days) and a high vaccination rate (e.g., ≥70% of eligible population is fully
vaccinated) could consider no longer requiring physical distancing or suspending screening
testing for students.
The considerations listed above are intended to serve as examples of how school administrators
may use information about local public health conditions to inform decision-making. They are not
intended to serve as a definitive state-recommended framework to determine how to adjust
mitigation strategies.
73. How can schools determine what level of transmission is occurring in their community?
Schools can review data from the CDC or IDPH to find recent information on the number of new
COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the previous week. CDC defines community transmission
as low, moderate, substantial, or high as follows:
Page 33 of 34
Low
Transmission
(blue)
Moderate
Transmission
(yellow)
Substantial
Transmission
(orange)
High
Transmission
(red)
Total new cases per
100,000 persons in the
past 7 days
0-9.99
10-49.99
50-99.99
≥ 100
Schools should contact their local health department for more information and guidance to assess
local public health conditions.
74. How can schools determine vaccine coverage in their community?
Schools can review data from the CDC or IDPH to find recent information on the number and
proportion of residents in their community who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. CDC data
reporting shows county-level vaccine coverage data according to the following tiers: 0-29.9%, 30-
39.9%, 40-49.9%, 50-69.9%, and 70%+.
Schools should contact their local health department for more information and guidance to assess
local public health conditions.
75. What are the CDC’s requirements for school buses and other school-related transportation?
School bus drivers and monitors are school personnel and are therefore subject to the vaccination
or testing requirements of Executive Order 2021-22 and 23 Ill. Admin. Code 6.
Further, the CDC issued an order, effective as of February 2, 2021, that requires all individuals to
wear a mask on public transportation to prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. The
CDC’s order applies to all public transportation conveyances, including school buses. In addition to
consistent and correct universal indoor mask use in all pre-K-12 schools, as required by Executive
Order 2021-18, passengers and drivers must wear a mask on school buses, including on buses
operated by public and nonpublic school systems, subject to the exclusions and exemptions in CDC’s
order.
There is no COVID-19-related capacity limit for passengers on school buses. During transportation,
open or crack windows in buses and other forms of transportation, if doing so does not pose a
safety risk. Keeping windows open a few inches improves air circulation.
Travel Restrictions
76. Do my school-aged children have to quarantine after returning from domestic travel?
In general, Illinois continues to recommend that people follow the CDC’s recommendations for
domestic and international travel, including that people should delay domestic travel, and not travel
internationally, until they are fully vaccinated. Additionally, the CDC’s guidance for schools is that in-
person learning is a priority. Thus, school-aged children who are not fully vaccinated and must travel
do not need stay home and self-quarantine after travel; they should continue to attend school in-
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person. School-aged children who are not fully vaccinated and must travel should get tested 5-7
days after travel, monitor for symptoms, and follow the IDPH guidance for if they test positive or if
symptoms of COVID-19 develop. Schools should follow local guidance for travel restriction that may
be more stringent.
77. Are there any current domestic or international travel restrictions for which we should be
monitoring and excluding students and staff?
There is widespread, ongoing transmission of novel coronavirus worldwide. CDC recommends
delaying travel until the traveler is fully vaccinated because travel increases the chance of getting
and spreading COVID-19. To learn more about COVID-19 travel recommendations for a specific
destination for those fully vaccinated and not vaccinated, visit COVID-19 Travel Recommendations
by Destination.
Domestic travel guidance can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-
ncov/travelers/infographic/infographic-quick-reference.html.
International travel guidance can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-
ncov/travelers/infographic/infographic-international-quick-reference.html.
Resources
78. School Toolkits and Checklists
K-12 Schools COVID-19 Mitigation Toolkit
● https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/FINAL-
0321420_B_K-12_Mitigation_Toolkit508.pdf
K-12 School Walkthrough Guide
● https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/321420-
Walkthrough.pdf
● https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/covid-19-vaccines-us.html
