Shrewsbury Public Schools

Respiratory Virus Guidelines

These guidelines apply to respiratory viruses like Influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 as they share similar transmission methods, symptoms, and prevention strategies. This unified approach aims to simplify recommendation and address common risks more effectively. 

As of March 2024 the Massachusetts Department of Public Health provides the following guidance: Staying home to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses.  This guidance aligns with CDC updated recommendations for respiratory viruses, also released in March 2024.

The CDC guidance for respiratory virus:

• When you have ANY respiratory virus - stay home and away from others if you have respiratory virus symptoms. These symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache, among others.                                                                                
• Return to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:
  • Your symptoms are getting better overall, and                                                       
  • You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication)
• When you go back to your normal activities, consider taking added precautions over the next 5 days, such as taking additional steps for hand hygiene, masks, physical distancing, and/or testing when you will be around other people indoors.

 

 

Updated 9/2024