COVID19 Updates

Dear Fuqua Families,

We continue to carefully evaluate our guidelines as recommendations from the Virginia Department of Health, the Virginia Council for Private Education, and the Virginia Association for Independent Schools are updated. Based on these recommendations, our Returning to Campus Safely Committee has modified our guidelines as listed below.

Please note that this revised guidance outlines that quarantine is no longer routinely recommended for asymptomatic individuals after exposure to COVID-19 infected individuals.  In general masks are not routinely recommended in these settings, indoors or outdoors, except during isolation as specified below.  Any individual who wishes to continue to mask, including those who face higher risk for COVID-19, may do so as an option.   

Isolation and Quarantine Guidance

• Symptomatic persons (regardless of vaccination status) should begin isolation at home and undergo testing as recommended by their healthcare providers.  The day symptoms began should be counted as day 0.

• Persons who test positive (regardless of vaccination status) should isolate themselves at home for at least 5 days.  If they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and they have been fever-free for 24 hours, they may return to school after Day 5, provided:
  • If the individual is able to mask, they should do so through Day 10.
  • If the individual is unable or unwilling to mask during this time, VDH recommends a negative test on or after Day 6 in order to return to school OR the person should remain home through day 10. 

• If a student needs to isolate after a positive test, the parent needs to make arrangements with their Division Head to pivot to virtual learning.

• For exposed by asymptomatic persons (regardless of vaccination status), quarantine is no longer recommended for the above settings.  These individuals may continue to attend school as long as they remain asymptomatic.  
  • Exposure is defined as being within 6 feet of a person who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period or having direct contact with respiratory secretions from an infected person.  
  • Masks:  Students/staff that attend school during this time may consider wearing a mask around others indoors until Day 10. 

Our hope is to continue to provide a safe and supportive educational environment for our students, our staff, our faculty, and our families, in accordance with guidance provided by the Virginia Department of Health and the Governor’s Office.

Sincerely,

Fuqua School Returning to Campus Safely Committee