COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio Department of Health is leaving it up to local school districts to decide if they want to implement mandatory masking and other COVID-19 preventative measures as students prepare to return to the classrooms for the coming school year.

On Thursday state health officials offered recommendations on how to decide if students or staff need to be quarantined if they are exposed to the virus during school activities or on school buses

Quarantine is not necessary for students and adults possibly exposed to COVID-19 in K-12 school settings, regardless of vaccination status, if all the following prevention measures have been in place.

• Masking for students and staff (regardless of vaccination status).
• Physical distancing is maximized (at least 3 feet between desks).
• Documented COVID-19 prevention policies (e.g., identification of individuals experiencing symptoms, strategies to increase ventilation, protocols for cleaning, etc.).

If all prevention measures listed above were not in place, quarantine is not necessary for fully vaccinated students and adults provided they adhere to the following precautions: Wear a mask indoors, as much as possible, either for 14 days or until a viral (PCR or antigen) test performed three to five days after exposure has come back as negative. In addition:

• Self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days following exposure; unless symptoms develop, individuals can continue attending in-person classes and participating in sports and extra-curricular activities.
• Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 should isolate away from others and be evaluated for COVID-19. Testing for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) may be recommended in coordination with the local health department, school, healthcare provider, or parents/guardians.
• If they test positive, they should isolate for at least 10 days from the date symptoms started (or the date of the positive test if they have no symptoms).
• *Note: A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the second dose of a two-dose vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer vaccine) or two weeks after receiving a single-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson vaccine).

If all prevention measures listed above were not in place, quarantine is not necessary for students and adults who are not fully vaccinated if the person who was exposed was wearing a face mask consistently and correctly and physical distancing was maintained. However, they should take the following precautions:

• Wear a mask indoors, as much as possible, either for 14 days or until a viral (PCR or antigen) test performed at least five days after exposure has come back as negative. While this negative result would allow them to discontinue masking in school after day seven, we encourage them to continue masking.
• Self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days following exposure; unless symptoms develop, individuals can continue attending in-person class and participating in sports and extra-curricular activities.
• Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 should isolate away from others and be evaluated for COVID-19. Testing for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) may be recommended in coordination with the local health department, school, healthcare provider, or parents/guardians.
• If they test positive, they should isolate for at least 10 days from the date symptoms started (or the date of the positive test if they have no symptoms).
• Quarantine is advised if the student or teacher is not fully vaccinated, and layers of prevention were not in place as described above.

If quarantine is necessary because layers of prevention were not in place as described above, it should last for at least seven days since the last exposure, and the contact should have a negative viral (PCR or antigen) test collected on or after day five. Individuals should watch for any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days.

• During quarantine, contacts should be advised to stay home and away from others as much as possible.
• If they become symptomatic at any point, they should receive a clinical evaluation or testing for COVID-19.

The above guidelines for students and adults only apply to exposures occurring in classroom settings. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated and exposed to COVID-19 outside of the school setting should refrain from attending in-person school and participating in organized sports or extracurriculars throughout their quarantine period.