Frequently Asked Questions: COVID-19 (updated 3/23/2023)
What is the distinction between isolation and quarantine?
What should I do if I or anyone in my household has COVID-19 like symptoms?
What happens if an employee or student tests positive for the virus?
Be sure the test results are shared with the school site nurse (for students) or Human Resources (staff). Stay home until at least five days have passed since symptoms first appeared and there is no fever for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication). Symptoms such as shortness of breath and cough should also improve before going back to a school site. Anyone who has a condition that severely weakens the immune system may need to stay home for longer and should consult with their healthcare provider.
Employees and students who have tested positive for COVID-19 and completed their isolation period should not take another COVID-19 test for 90 days because of the possibility of a false-positive result.
If I test positive for COVID-19, can I take another test to confirm?
Does an employee/student who tested positive need to test again before returning to work/school?
As of March 2023 employees and students who tested positive can return to school after 5 days if they are fever-free and symptoms are resolving. Employees and students are not required to provide proof of a negative test before returning to campus.
Employees and students who have tested positive for COVID-19 and completed their isolation period should not take another COVID-19 test for 90 days because of the possibility of a false-positive result. An individual who has recovered from COVID-19 may have low levels of the virus in their bodies for up to three months and may continue to test positive although they are not contagious.
More information is available here: https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/COVID-19.aspx
What is a “close contact” to a case and what does it mean to be a close contact?
What is considered the first day of quarantine?
What should I do if a member of my household tests positive?
What should I do if my child is in close contact with someone outside of school who is positive?
If your child recovered from COVID-19 in the last 90 days, they are exempt from testing but are required to monitor for symptoms.
If your child develops any COVID-19 symptoms, you should call your healthcare provider immediately and make arrangements for your child to be tested for COVID-19.
Do household members of close contacts have to take the same precautions?
What determines if a class will close, or a school will close because of an outbreak?
The SLO County Department of Public Health will conduct an investigation and make a determination if a school or class should close due to an outbreak.
Public Health will be notified of three cases in one classroom setting or if 5% of the student/staff population has tested positive.
Will I know about an outbreak in my student's school?
An outbreak is a specific event of multiple, linked cases that is determined in partnership with the SLO County Department of Public Health. If an outbreak is identified, principals and the District Nurse will follow specific protocols to inform the school community. Principals will communicate all necessary information to the school community, in accordance with SLO County Department of Public Health guidelines.
Where can I pick up an at-home rapid self test?
Rapid antigen tests are available at all schools and worksites. Tests will only be provided to individuals who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or who have been identified as a close contact of a positive individual.
Students and staff members who are not on campus and have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should not report to campus to pick up a rapid test. Please call ahead and a test will be left outside for your convenience.
What happens if an employee or student tests positive on the at-home rapid self-test?
If you receive a positive result on an at-home test, please forward the test result to the site nurse or the Human Resources Department as soon as possible, listing your name, date of birth and test date, handwritten on the test or a separate piece of paper.
Note that the day you took the rapid test is "Day 0" of your isolation period. You can get cleared to return to school or work as early as Day 6.
What if I have a positive at home test, but take a PCR test and get a negative result?
Is it safe to use a rapid antigen test kit with an expired date?
Can my students 12 and older still attend in-person school if they do not get the COVID-19 vaccine?
All eligible students are still encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
How much will the COVID-19 vaccine cost?
Where can I take my student to get a COVID-19 vaccine?
How do I make an appointment for my child who is 5-11 years old?
Can my student participate in extracurricular activities if they are not fully vaccinated?
Paso Robles Joint Unified has delayed its COVID-19 vaccine requirement for students until at least July 1, 2023, in alignment with the state’s implementation timeline.
What does “Fully-Vaccinated” mean?
What do I do if I lost my vaccination card?
What if my child has a reaction to the vaccine and has to stay home from school?
Do students need parental consent to be vaccinated?
If my child has already had COVID-19, do they still need to be vaccinated? Why?