COVID-19 shut down the country and the world four years ago this month. This led to rules and guidelines being set at JC. These rules have changed as the virus mutates, and on March 11, the rules changed again.

John Carroll has had 36 reported positive cases this school year.

Nurse Stacy Quigg said, “We have not come anywhere close to an outbreak, but I am still tracking cases because COVID is considered a reportable illness, and as a licensed health professional, I am required to report an outbreak.”

There is a high degree of population immunity; there are vaccines available for COVID, flu, and RSV, and there are far fewer hospitalizations and deaths related to COVID.

Regarding the new guidelines, Mrs. Quigg said, “If you feel sick, stay home until your symptoms improve, and you are fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine. You are no longer required to be isolated for five days.  After improvement and return to school or work, you should take added precaution over the next five days, such as practicing good hygiene, masking, physical distancing, and testing when you will be around others or people at higher risk of severe illness.”  She said you should still test because it is important to protect people at higher risk of severe illness from respiratory illness. If positive, notify the Health Suite by emailing one of the nurses.

  “If you learn you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID, monitor for symptoms.  If you should develop any symptoms, stay home and test,” said Mrs. Quigg.