The Barstow School puts the safety of our community at the forefront of every decision we make. We follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for addressing risks from common respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, flu and RSV. These guidelines were updated on March 1, 2024.
When a student, faculty or staff member becomes sick with a respiratory virus, they should stay home. However, people who test positive for COVID no longer need to isolate for five days. Instead, the CDC suggests returning to normal activities when:
- Symptoms are improving overall for at least 24 hours.
- Fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medication.
When returning to normal activities, take added precaution over the next 5 days, such as wearing masks and physical distancing when you will be around other people indoors. Y
ou may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better. You are likely to be less contagious at this time, depending on factors like how long you were sick or how sick you were.
If you develop a fever or you start to feel worse after you have gone back to normal activities, stay home and away from others for at least 24 hours until fever-free without medication and your symptoms are improving overall.
The CDC also recommends:
- Staying up to date with vaccination to protect people against illness. This includes flu, COVID-19 and RSV if eligible.
- Practicing good hygiene by covering coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing hands often, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
- Taking steps for cleaner air, such as bringing in more fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors.
Barstow is a mask-optional campus. This policy is adjusted as community conditions change. For more information related to COVID and other respiratory illnesses, please visit the CDC link below.
