When can my kid go back to school after COVID?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
CDC: back to school when symptoms are improving and they have been fever-free 24 hours without fever medication, then 5 days of added precautions like masking and handwashing. The fixed 5-day isolation era is over; the rule is symptom-based, and it applies to COVID the same as flu and RSV. The overrides: school districts set their own policies, so check yours before sending them in, and the fever-free clock must be medication-free, since a Tylenol-normalized temperature does not count. Day-of-return practicalities: a well-fitted mask for the 5-day window if they will keep it on, their own water bottle, no shared snacks, and a heads-up to the school nurse. Rebound symptoms mean back home and restart. High-risk contacts change the math: a household grandparent or an immunocompromised classmate argues for extending precautions and using rapid tests, two negatives 48 hours apart, before unmasked close contact.
What to do
- The bar: improving symptoms plus 24 hours fever-free, no meds.
- Then 5 days of masking and hygiene at school.
- Check district policy: schools can set stricter rules.
- Rebound = home again: restart the clock.
- High-risk contacts: extend precautions and test first.
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