Covid-19 Guidance & Consideration

At the heart of Odyssey’s Covid planning is our steadfast commitment to core values, including the protection of the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff. We endeavor to create the best possible learning environment to achieve these goals.

Odyssey’s Current Covid-19 Guidance

Updated May 12, 2023 — 

People who test positive for COVID-19 are required to be out of school/work five days from the date of symptom onset or positive test (whichever is first). The date of symptom onset/positive test is Day Zero, and they may return on Day 6 as long as they have been fever-free for 24 hours without medication support and symptoms are improving. A mask must be worn for five additional days after returning to school. A negative COVID-19 test is NOT required to return to school/work. Odyssey School follows CDC, NCDHHS, and local health department guidance when making this determination. 

Quarantine following a known exposure to COVID-19 is not required UNLESS the person has COVID-like symptoms. The CDC recommends the person wear a mask for ten days following exposure and get tested on day 5. If symptoms develop, stay home and test for COVID-19. Contact the Odyssey Office Manager for more information, Liz Lesley, elesley@odysseycommunity.org. 

It is required that parents disclose and keep children at home if:

• They have tested positive for COVID-19
• They are showing Covid Symptoms:
  • Fever of 100.4°F or above
  • Sore throat
  • Cough (for people with chronic cough due to asthma or allergies, a change from baseline)
  • Difficulty breathing (for people with asthma, a change from baseline)
  • New loss of taste
  • New loss of smell
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea or Vomiting
  • New onset of severe headache (especially with fever)
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Muscle or body aches

Odyssey has antigen tests available for students and staff who are symptomatic during school hours. 

While Out

No remote instruction will be available. Students should use the time to rest and recover fully. Odyssey teachers will be in communication with the family and determine make-up work on a case by case basis. With a note from parents, students who are isolating will be recorded as an excused absence. Contact Elesley@odysseycommunity.org 

Exclusion criteria includes the following…

• Common cold/respiratory illnesses
  • With any respiratory symptoms, it is recommended to take a rapid COVID test before returning to school.
  • Until a fever of greater than 100.4 is gone for at least 24 hours without medication support and the child is well enough to participate in routine activities.
• Diarrhea
  • If 2 or more loose stools, the student should stay home until 24 hours after diarrhea has stopped or a healthcare provider has determined the cause to not be infectious. If diagnosed to be infectious by a healthcare provider, please follow doctor’s recommendations, as well as notify the Office Manager for more specific exclusion criteria.
• Vomiting 
  • If 2 or more episodes of vomiting, the student should stay home until 24 hours after vomiting has stopped or a healthcare provider has determined the cause to not be infectious.
• Lice
  • A student with lice should stay home until after receiving the first treatment.
• Pink eye
  • A student with eye redness and discharge and/or fever should stay home until 24 hours after starting treatment. 
• Abdominal pain
  • A student with abdominal pain that continues for more than two hours or intermittent pain associated with fever or other symptoms, should be sent home.
• Rashes 
  • A student with a rash and a fever or a change in behavior should be excluded from school until the rash subsides or until a healthcare provider has determined it is not infectious. If a healthcare provider diagnoses rash as infectious, please follow doctor’s recommendations, as well as notify the Office Manager for more specific exclusion criteria.
• Skin sores
  • A student with weeping sores on an exposed area that cannot be covered with waterproof dressing should be excluded until exposed sores dry. 

It is highly recommended that students/parents/faculty wear a face mask if they are symptomatic in any way. Thank you for all you do to keep our community safe and healthy. 

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