When Children and Staff Should Stay Home from School or Child Care

Evaluation of a sick child must consider which diseases are currently circulating among students, staff, and the community. Known exposure to cases or an outbreak of a contagious disease (including but not limited to those listed here), even without a confirmed diagnosis, may necessitate more stringent return to school requirements.
During Colorado’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, children and staff who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should receive testing, and follow the COVID-19 isolation guidance until testing is completed or if they test positive. If the individual tests negative for COVID-19, the individual should then follow the recommendations for their disease or symptoms using the below guidance.
There are four main reasons to keep children and adults at home:

1. The child or staff is at risk of infecting others with COVID-19 or another contagious illness, either because of symptoms or recent close contact.

2. The child or staff member does not feel well enough to take part in usual activities. For example, a child is overly tired, fussy or will not stop crying.

3. A child needs more care than teachers and staff can give while still caring for the other children.

4. The child or staff member has symptoms or an illness is on this list, and staying home is required.

• Children with severe cold symptoms should not attend school.

Cold symptoms may include:

• nasal or lung/chest congestion

• coughing that is constant or persistent

• recurrent sneezing that is not allergy related

• Do not send a child to school with an abnormal temperature-any temperature over 100 degrees F.

• A child must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school.

• Do not send a child to school that has been vomiting within the last 24 hours.

• Do not send a child to school that has had diarrhea in the last 24 hours.

• Flu symptoms: fever over 100 degrees (usually high) or one or more of the following: body aches, sore throat, cough or headache. Do not send your child back to school until he/she has had no symptoms for at least 24 hours.

• Wash hands before eating, after using the bathroom, after playing outside or after using a tissue.

• Wash hands using soap and warm water for 15-20 seconds (sing the ABC song once)

• Cover cough /sneeze into your sleeve. If a tissue is used, throw away tissue and wash hands.

• Sleep 8+ hours per night

• Healthy eating habits

You may obtain more detailed school illness guidelines and information at Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment

Thank you for helping us keep Peyton students and staff healthy!