Indiana Department of Health updates COVID-19 guidelines in schools

The Indiana Department of Health has made changes in its COVID-19 guidelines for K-12 schools and childcare programs.

The following changes will begin on Wednesday, February 23:

• Schools will no longer be required to perform contact tracing or report positive cases to the department of health
• Schools will no longer need to quarantine students who are exposed to a positive case, regardless of vaccination status or mask requirements
• Those who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate for five days and can return on day six so long as their symptoms are improving and they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication
  • These individuals should still wear a mask through day 10 when they are around others

Schools should still alert local health departments of any COVID-19 outbreaks or clusters. Schools are encouraged to notify families when a case is identified.

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning is also lifting COVID-19 quarantine requirements for children at their childcare program.

Children who test positive should isolate for five days regardless of symptoms and return on day six if they can wear a mask.

Those who cannot should return on day eight.

The department of health is suspending testing and vaccination strike teams across the state but will make mobile sites available when needed.

The Indiana National Guard support for long-term care facilities and hospitals ends on March 14. No new requests will be accepted after February 26.