Per ADH guidelines: The incubation period of the virus that causes COVID-19 is up to 14 days. Therefore, the safest quarantine period would last 14 days from the most recent exposure to the positive patient. According to CDC guidelines, quarantine can end 10 days after last contact with the positive patient without testing if no symptoms have occurred. Or, it can end after 7 days if no symptoms have occurred and a test returned a negative result. Note that the test sample must have been collected at least 5 days after exposure. Send-off PCR tests are preferred, but rapid PCR or antigen tests are acceptable. If you are exposed again during quarantine, the period must start over again. If you develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 during the quarantine period, you must follow the instructions for isolating yourself. If you are a close contact and you are fully vaccinated, you do not have to quarantine if you do not have symptoms. If you develop symptoms, you should isolate.
These guidelines are what Paris School District follows to determine return dates for students placed in quarantine. Only documentation from the Arkansas Department of Health will release them from quarantine for a date different than given to you by our Point of Contact, Shawna Clayton. Mrs. Clayton's email address is sclayton@parisschools.org