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Madison Metropolitan School District

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Covid Health & Safety Guidance

childs hands with soap suds

Universal Health Practices

Following practices of proper handwashing, respiratory etiquette, and monitoring symptoms.

Prior to coming to school, students and staff should conduct daily symptom checks and stay home if they are sick and do not feel well.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

Custodial and Maintenance staff will continue “high touch-point” cleaning as be part of our daily routine.

All classrooms have been outfitted with classroom cleaning kits which will be restocked by our custodians.

Child at desk coloring with a marker with a mask on their face

Masks

CDC guidelines state that wearing a well-fitting mask or respirator consistently and correctly reduces the risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.

Anyone that returns to school on day 6-10 of isolation from Covid-19 infection or with respiratory symptoms (regardless of a negative test) should wear a mask until symptoms are resolving. Respiratory symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, congestion, sore throat.

Picture of bus

Masks - On Buses

We highly recommend students and staff continue to wear masks while on buses.

desk with student sitting showing just legs with social distance sign on floor

Physical Distancing

Physical distancing is no longer required, in alignment with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, the district does encourage distancing where possible and to avoid overcrowding especially during periods when there is high community transmission rates.

Chilcren on a field trip looking at butterflies

Field Trips & Events

Participants of field trips have the expectation to follow the district’s current COVID-19 safety measures and current Board policies.

Those attending large events, such as ceremonies, performing arts, and athletics, should follow the district’s current COVID-19 safety measures and current Board policies.

Table with tea, and tissues from someone with illness

Stay Home When Sick

Any staff or student that symptoms of Covid-19 (one or more of the following: Cough, Shortness of breath or Loss of taste or smell OR Two or more: Sore throat, Muscle pain or body aches, Headache, Fever (>100.4 degrees F), Runny nose or nasal congestion, Vomiting, Diarrhea) will need to stay home and will be encouraged to test.

Students and staff may return to school (or stay in school) if they test negative for Covid-19 (rapid antigen or PCR acceptable) AND they meet the following criteria:

  1. No fever, no vomiting, no diarrhea for at least 24 hours (without taking fever reducing medications).
  2. They should mask if having respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, congestion), and should continue to wear a mask until symptoms have resolved or nearly resolved.
  3. They should generally be well enough to finish the school day.
  4. The student agrees to return to the health office if symptoms worsen.

If testing is declined, and criteria is met to warrant testing for Covid-19, they will need to go home for 5 days from symptom onset. They may return on day 6 (as long as no fever/vomiting/ diarrhea within 24 hours), and should mask on days 6-10.

COVID-19 vaccines are available for everyone and have been shown to be highly safe and effective.

schedule an appointment with Public Health Madison & Dane County

Child giving a thumbs up after recieving vaccine shot.

Know Your Risk for Getting Very Sick From COVID

People who get very sick from COVID may need hospital care. They can even die. 

Staying up to date with your COVID vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from getting very sick from COVID.

Some people are more likely than others to get very sick from COVID-even if vaccinated.

Factors that make people more likely to get very sick from COVID

Older age

  • Risk for severe illness from COVID increases with age, especially for people 50 and older.

Compromised or weakened immune system

  • Either due to a medical condition or medication that weakens the immune system, such as chemotherapy or corticosteroids.

Certain health issues

Certain health issues increase your risk more than others. And the more you have, the higher your risk. Common health issues that increase your risk include:

  • Heart conditions

  • Diabetes

  • Asthma and other lung conditions

  • Cancer

  • Conditions of the kidneys or liver

  • Being overweight or obese

These aren’t all the health issues linked to an increased risk of severe illness from COVID. Talk to your doctor or health care provider about your health issues to understand your risk.

FDA-authorized or -approved treatment is available to help prevent severe illness

If you’re more likely to get very sick, you need to start medical treatment for COVID right away after symptoms first appear.

Don’t wait. It’s important to get tested quickly if you have symptoms of COVID. Prescription treatments need to be started within days of when symptoms start.

Even if your symptoms are mild, treating your COVID early with medicine prescribed by a doctor or other authorized health care provider can make your infection less severe and help keep you out of the hospital. It could save your life.

Talk to your doctor or health care provider about your risk for getting very sick from COVID.

Learn more at cdc.gov/covidtreatment

Additional Information and Resources:

Masking

Below some Wellness links that many families have found helpful during the pandemic.

Mental Health Resources

Being Well Resources
 

Guidance for Visitors and Volunteers

Tracking Coronavirus in Dane County, Wisconsin: Latest Map and Case Count

A School Building Icon

Safety in our Buildings

We've made several adjustments in preparation for students and staff to return to buildings. Some of those are outlined below and in the MMSD Covid-19 Building Analysis Final Report.