Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES is following the latest guidance from the New York State Department of Health regarding COVID-19. For more information, please click on the following link to review the state’s letter, “What Parents/Caregivers Should Know about COVID Mitigation Strategies for the 2022-2023 School Year” (August 2022). 

Also, please review the information below and the image immediately below about the process following a COVID-19 exposure:

Illness/positive COVID test

As with any infectious illness, students and staff who test positive for COVID-19, or who show symptoms, are asked to stay home from school and follow the Centers for Disease Control’s Isolation Guidance. 

• Someone who tested positive and has no symptoms may return to school after day 5.
  

• Someone who is sick (has symptoms) may return to school after day 5 if they have been fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and symptoms are improving.

People who have been sick, or tested positive, should wear a well-fitting mask through day 10.

Testing

Testing is recommended for people with symptoms of COVID-19 as soon as possible after symptoms begin.

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES provides at-home COVID-19 test kits for students. If you need a home COVID test, please contact, your student’s program’s principal.

Also, with permission from a parent or guardian, BOCES’ nurses can perform a rapid COVID-19 test on students at school.  BOCES will provide the rapid test results to the family and appropriate Department of Health.

COVID-19 vaccination

COVID-19 vaccinations are not required to attend school. Children ages 6 months and older are all eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Children older than 5 are eligible for a booster. For more information, visit ny.gov/vaxtoschool.

Masks

Any student or staff member may wear a mask while at school to prevent the spread of illness. Mask-wearing is recommended for at least 10 days following a positive COVID test, or COVID illness. BOCES has a supply of masks for students to use, if needed.

Health and safety protocols

Routine cleaning in our school buildings continues to be an important strategy for reducing the spread of illness. High-risk areas such as health offices, classrooms, lunchrooms, athletic rooms, bathrooms and high-traffic areas – and high-touch surfaces such as lunch tables, desks, chairs, light switches and handrails are cleaned regularly.