Home  |  COVID-19 info re: testing, quarantine, post-symptom return

Free COVID-19 Testing

We encourage all children and families to get tested for COVID-19 regularly. This will help keep our community safe, limit the spread of COVID-19, and allow us to return back to normal as soon as possible. Here you can access the city directory of testing sites. 

Required quarantines after travel

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced new guidelines allowing travelers to New York to “test out” of the mandatory 10-day quarantine for asymptomatic individuals. Travelers from states that are contiguous with New York are exempt from the travel advisory; however covered travelers must continue to fill out the Traveler Health Form. Essential workers will continue to be exempt as well. The guidance also applies to any person who has traveled to CDC Levels 2 and higher Health Notice country under the COVID risk assessment.

For any traveler to New York State from a noncontiguous state, US territory or CDC level 2 and higher country, the new guidelines for travelers to test-out of the mandatory 10-day quarantine are below:

  • For travelers who were out-of-state for more than 24 hours:
    • Travelers must obtain a test within three days of departure, prior to arrival in New York.
    • The traveler must, upon arrival in New York, quarantine for three days.
    • On day 4 of their quarantine, the traveler must obtain another COVID test. If both tests comes back negative, the traveler may exit quarantine early upon receipt of the second negative diagnostic test. 
  • For travelers who were out-of-state for less than 24 hours: 
    • The traveler does not need a test prior to their departure from the other state, and does not need to quarantine upon arrival in New York State.
    • However, the traveler must fill out our traveler form upon entry into New York State, and take a COVID diagnostic test 4 days after their arrival in New York.

Returning to school after COVID-19 symptoms and/or exposure

Any student or staff member who has tested positive for COVID-19 can return to school only after:  

● Isolating for 10 days AND
● Being fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication AND
● Is experiencing overall improvement in symptoms
Please note:
● For people with symptoms, the infectious period generally begins two days before symptoms start and continues for ten days from when symptoms begin.
● For people with no symptoms (asymptomatic), the infectious period is estimated to begin two days before COVID-19 testing to ten days after testing.
● One may continue to receive a positive COVID-19 test result for up to three months even though they are no longer infectious.
 
If a student or staff member showed symptoms but tested negative for COVID-19, they can return to school only after:
● Being fever free 24 hours without the use of medication AND
● Overall symptoms are improving
 
If a student or staff member did not get tested for COVID-19 but showed symptoms, they can return to school only after:
● At least 10 days have passed since symptoms started AND
● They have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication AND
● Overall symptoms are improving
 
If a student or staff member is considered a close contact of an individual who has tested positive, they can return to school only after:
● Quarantining for 10-days since their last exposure to that case (even if you receive a subsequent negative COVID-19 test result)
 
Students in quarantine should participate in remote learning to the extent possible.