January 21, 2022 Update

As you may be aware, health and safety guidance from the state and local health departments related to COVID-19 continues to evolve. We remain committed to keeping our students in school while providing a safe learning environment for all. We also remain committed to providing staff and families with clear, updated information on the latest guidance as it relates to COVID-19 testing, quarantine and isolation. 

Effective immediately, Lake George Central School District will use the following protocols when students test positive for COVID-19 or are considered exposed to an individual with COVID-19. These protocols are based on the most recent updates from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the New York State Department of Health, and local health departments. Please know that this information is subject to change at any time. If you have specific concerns or questions regarding your child, please contact the school nurse.

One of the biggest changes you can expect is that the New York State Department of Health will no longer conduct contact tracing. This means that individuals potentially exposed to COVID-19 will no longer be contacted by their local department of health. However, we will continue our due diligence with regard to notifying impacted staff and families if we learn about a positive case. This may involve a phone call or email letting staff and families know that they may have been exposed to an individual who tested positive for COVID and what they need to do based on that potential exposure. 

Based on the latest information we have received, here are the rules for various scenarios: 

If a student has been identified by the school as a direct contact:

    • If a student is up-to-date on their COVID vaccinations, as defined by the CDC, they may come to school.  
    • If a student tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days, they may come to school. 
    • If a student is not up-to-date on their COVID vaccination and has not tested positive in the last 90 days, they will be excluded from school for at least five days after their last close contact with an individual with COVID-19. 
      • For example:
        • Day 0: Date of exposure
        • Day 1: Stay home
        • Day 2: Stay home
        • Day 3: Stay home
        • Day 4: Stay home
        • Day 5: Stay home
        • Day 6: Return to school as long as no symptoms have developed. 
  • Students who are NOT up-to-date on their COVID vaccination are not eligible to participate in extracurricular or co-curricular activities. 
  • State guidance states that all individuals should wear a well-fitting mask around others (e.g., at home, in public) for a full 10 days following the date of exposure. 

If a student tests positive for COVID-19:

  • Isolate for a full five days
  • Contact the school nurse
  • If a student tests positive for COVID-19 and took an Over-the-Counter (i.e., at-home, take-home) antigen test, parents/guardians should report the results to the local department of health by clicking here. 
  • Students may return to school after day five if they are asymptomatic or if symptoms are resolving. 
    • For example:
      • Day 0: Symptom onset or tested positive
      • Day 1: Stay home
      • Day 2: Stay home
      • Day 3: Stay home
      • Day 4: Stay home
      • Day 5: Stay home
      • Day 6: Return to school if asymptomatic, or if symptoms are resolving. 
  • In order for students who have tested positive and have had symptoms to return to school after five days, they must:
    • Be fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.
    • Have no more than an infrequent, nonproductive cough that is not getting worse. Students with a cough must be able to tolerate continuous mask use as breaks are not allowed. 
    • Have not experienced excessive or unusual fatigue. 
    • Have no persistent headache or muscle aches. 
    • Have no nausea, diarrhea or vomiting for at least 24 hours. 
  • State guidance states that all individuals should wear a well-fitting mask around others (e.g., at home, in public) for a full 10 days following the first day of symptoms (or the date of a positive test, if the student is asymptomatic). 
  • Anyone who is moderately or severely immunocompromised should follow the standard 10-day isolation guidance issued previously. 

If a student has COVID-19 symptoms:

  • Contact the school nurse
  • Regardless of vaccination status, if a student has COVID-19 symptoms, they must have a lab negative NAAT, lab antigen test, or two negative Over-the-Counter (i.e., at-home or take-home) antigen tests taken 36 hours apart, in order to return to school. 
  • If parents/guardians are presenting the district with two negative Over-the-Counter antigen tests, they must also present the following attestation signed by a parent or guardian [update accordingly based on district process]. Here is the form
  • In addition to a negative test result(s), students must be well enough to:
    • Participate in school; 
    • Be fever-free for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medications; and
    • Meet other school or district requirements to return to school after a non-COVID illness. 
  • If a student tests positive for COVID-19, please follow the guidance above. 
  • Please also note:
    • There is no exemption to the testing requirement for symptomatic students. 
    • Students with symptoms that are attributable to pre-existing medical conditions (e.g., migraines, allergies) and are not new or worsening do not require school exclusion or testing. 
    • If a healthcare provider makes a diagnosis of a confirmed non-COVID-19 acute illness (e.g., laboratory-confirmed influenza or strep throat) AND COVID-19 is not suspected, then a note signed by the healthcare provider explaining the alternate diagnosis may be provided to allow a student, teacher, or staff member to participate in school without COVID-19 testing. 

Additional quarantine and isolation information can be found on our local county department of health website, as well as the New York State Department of Health and CDC websites: 

Thank you for your continued partnership as we work to keep our students and staff healthy and our students in school. If you have any questions or concerns about COVID-19 testing or other health and safety protocols, please do not hesitate to call or email the school.