Health and Safety at Newport News Public Schools

Health Screening

Students: All parents/guardians will be asked to conduct a health screening of their child each day (daily health questionnaire) before the child reports to school or boards a school bus. Before leaving home, parents/guardians will ensure that their child does not have a fever or have any other symptoms of COVID–19 and has not been exposed to anyone who exhibits symptoms of the virus.

Employees: All NNPS staff will be required to complete the daily health screening and ensure that they do not have a fever or any other COVID–19 symptoms and have not been exposed to anyone who exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 before reporting to work.

Visitors: All visitors will be required to ensure that they do not have a fever or any other COVID–19 symptoms and have not been exposed to anyone who exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 before entering any NNPS school or office building.

The NNPS leadership team has reviewed the recent updates to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) quarantine and isolation guidelines. At the recommendation of the Peninsula Health District, beginning Monday, January 3, 2022, NNPS is implementing the new CDC guidelines.

The revised CDC guidelines recommend a shortened isolation time for people with COVID-19 from 10 to 5 days if they are asymptomatic or with symptom improvement, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others. Additionally, individuals who are exposed to someone with COVID-19 and are unvaccinated should quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days. People who have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure, but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure. Note: the Virginia Department of Health recommends wearing a face mask on days 6-10. If a student is unwilling to wear a face mask on days 6-10, a full 10-day isolation or quarantine is recommended. For all those exposed to COVID-19, the CDC recommends COVID-19 testing at day 5 after exposure. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately isolate until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.

Students, staff or visitors with a temperature above 100.4 degrees, and/or who are exhibiting any symptom of COVID-19 should not report to school or work, or visit any NNPS facility, until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications, have had an improvement in symptoms, and can ensure that 5 days have passed since their symptoms first appeared.