-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Emmett Pringle, 6, a first-grader in Peggy Larson's and Kirstie Ron’s class, looks on wearing a face covering on Thursday. Hospital officials say they have received multiple calls on when their child should return to school after an illness.

With almost two weeks of face-to-face classes in the books for Fort Dodge schools and already some COVID-19 cases confirmed, many parents are wondering how long their child should stay home if they get the virus or any other illnesses that may develop during the year.

“We have been getting calls from parents about their kids not feeling the greatest,” said Alyssa Stanek, UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge senior marketing communications specialist. “Many are wondering not just about COVID but other illnesses and when their child should go back to school.”

According to information provided by UnityPoint, if a student has recovered from COVID-19, their provider can issue a note stating that they are able to return to school in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state public health guidelines.

The current CDC guidelines allow students to return to school 10 days after symptom onset, if symptoms are resolved or improving and there has been no fever (without use of fever reducing medications) for 24 hours.

If a child is sick with another illness other than COVID-19, UnityPoint Health experts recommend returning to school once the child is fever free for 24 hours and symptoms are improving.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Mason Courtney, 6, a first-grader at Duncombe Elementary School, reads his book Thursday afternoon.

However, those experts also recommend ill children be assessed by their primary care provider. Those providers can diagnose and treat the medical condition. They will also provide documentation on when it is safe to return to school.

If your child is sent home sick, it’s recommended to make a doctor’s appointment as soon as possible.

In terms of exposure to COVID-19, health experts say decisions on quarantine is determined by local public health.

Webster County Public Health will determine close contacts through contact tracing and help from the school and family members. The student and family will be provided with public health guidance as well as a 14 day window of exposure.

Webster County Public Health will continue to work with the school and family to track the student’s potential symptoms and this 14 day window. If a student meets all public health guidelines to be released from quarantine following that exposure window, the student will be able to return to school.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson A collection of lost masks are spread out on a table in the secretary’s office at Duncombe Elementary School Thursday afternoon. Hospital and public health officials say they have received multiple calls on when parents should send their child back to school after having an illness.

Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 will not be identified publicly by Webster County Public Health.

In terms of mask wearing, health experts from UnityPoint say there is no medical condition that prevents the wearing of a mask. If a patient has a condition where wearing a mask is a challenge, a face shield could be used at school as an alternative if the school allows it.

When a child is exposed, school districts will call parents to have them pick up their child.

In Webster County, testing for individuals is available at Unity Point Health — Fort Dodge and Community Health Center of Fort Dodge. Webster County Public Health provides surveillance and target testing as it is needed in the county. Public health’s role is to analyze, contact trace and provide guidance based on the testing data that is received from clinics and providers.

Fast facts

• Students can return to school 10 days after COVID-19 symptom onset, if symptoms are resolved or improving and there has been no fever (without use of fever reducing medications) for 24 hours.

• There is no medical condition that prevents the wearing of a mask.

• Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 will not be identified publicly by Webster County Public Health.