The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) has updated the MSDH COVID-19 Guidance for K-12 to include the following:
- The isolation and school exclusion period for a positive case of COVID-19 is changed from 14 days to 10 days for consistency with current CDC guidance.
- The exposure time to be considered a close contact to a case of COVID-19 is updated to less than 6 feet for 15 minutes cumulative throughout the day.
- Masks should NOT be worn by children under the age of 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious (naps or sleeping), incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
- There is no test out of quarantine; the quarantine period is a full 14 days regardless of any test results during the quarantine period.
- People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again.
- Symptom and temperature screening recommendations added. Temperature of equal to 100○F or higher should be considered fever for screening purposes.
- School nurses should wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when caring for ill staff or students. Appropriate PPE includes N-95 mask (or surgical mask if N-95 not available) and eye protection (face shield or goggles).
- School nurses will not be considered close contacts while wearing appropriate medical PPE.
The guidance may also be accessed on the MSDH website at https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/resources/9917.pdf