Coronavirus Response

Attention!! Please read this carefully as some of the COVID procedures have changed.

On 8/23/21, updates made to the NM PED COVID-19 Response Toolkit were published. Here are some of the changes:

An individual should isolate and test immediately if symptoms develop.

Testing:

A PCR test is the only kind that will be accepted. A negative rapid test must be confirmed with a PCR test. A Vault PCR test will be accepted. A BinaxNOW home test will NOT be accepted.

Both vaccinated and unvaccinated students and staff with no known exposure to COVID-19 but with new onset COVID-19 symptoms (even if it is just a headache or runny nose), should stay home to self-isolate and are encouraged to test. If the student or staff member provides proof of a negative PCR test result to the nurse, they may return to school before the full 10 days of isolation. If the person decides not to test, they must isolate for the full 10 days, and be fever-free without fever-reducing medication for 24 hours and have improving symptoms before returning to school. 

Students with allergies, asthma, or other non-infectious chronic disease who have chronic, mild non-specific COVID-19 symptoms should have their symptoms assessed by the school nurse or their primary care provider (PCP). If there are no changes in symptoms from the baseline state, students would not need to be tested and may participate in school. If students have a change in symptoms from their baseline as assessed either by the school nurse or their PCP, the students should be tested for COVID-19 and be placed in isolation until the results are available. Once proof of the student’s negative test result is provided to the nurse, the student may return to school. If the student does not get tested, the student must isolate for 10 days and be fever-free without fever-reducing medication for 24 hours and have improving symptoms before returning to school. 

If an unvaccinated person has had a known exposure to COVID-19, the person should be tested at five days after exposure and must quarantine for the full 10 days regardless of a negative test. 

A fully vaccinated person who has a known exposure to COVID-19, does not need to quarantine as long as they do not develop symptoms following the exposure. 

Masks:

Everyone is required to wear masks while in a school building, on school transportation, or at a school-sponsored event. The only time the face mask may be off is while eating or drinking. It is recommended (not required) that unvaccinated students and staff wear masks outside the school building.

COVID Vaccination Cards:

If your student is fully vaccinated and you have not provided a copy of your student's COVID vaccination card (or a VaxView printout) to the nurse ([email protected]), please do so as soon as possible. You can even take a picture of the card with your phone and email it to the nurse. If you need help getting a copy of the COVID card, please see the nurse. Until there is evidence of full vaccination presented to the nurse, a person will need to adhere to the guidelines for those who are unvaccinated.