As COVID-19 continues to be present in our communities, we are often asked, “When should I keep my child home from school?” The San Mateo County Office of Education advises that staying home when sick lowers the risk of spreading infectious diseases, including COVID, to other people. Students exhibiting symptoms associated with COVID should stay home from school and take a COVID test. A student should remain at home until symptoms are mild and improving and at least 24 hours after the resolution of a fever, without the use of  fever-reducing medications. . 


Students who test positive for COVID, must stay home for 5 days after which they can return with a negative test result. After 10 days, a student with no symptoms but still testing positive for COVID may return to school as s/he/they may test positive for weeks after a diagnosis with no symptoms. 


Symptoms include the following:

  • Fever or chills

  • Cough

  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

  • Fatigue

  • Muscle or body aches

  • Headache

  • New loss of taste or smell

  • Sore throat

  • Congestion or runny nose

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Diarrhea

San Mateo County Office of Education has renamed the Pandemic Recovery Framework to San Mateo County Safe Schools Plan. This plan is updated regularly as new guidance is issued by the California Department of Public Health. The plan can be found here-  link (English)      link (Spanish)

Thank you for helping to keep our schools safe!