Stay or go home if you have one or more of these symptoms:

• fever over 100.4
• headache
• new cough
• muscle aches/body aches
• shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• new loss of taste or smell
• fatigue
• sore throat
• runny nose
• vomiting
• diarrhea

WDMCS strongly encourages families to follow the current Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance which recommends all individuals — both vaccinated and unvaccinated — wear face masks indoors. WDMCS recognizes the Iowa Legislature’s HF 847, which prohibits public school districts from requiring anyone to wear a face mask on school property.  

If your student/family has a confirmed COVID-19 case or possible COVID-19 exposure:

• Contact your school nurse for guidance.
• View the WDMCS COVID-19 exposure guidelines for more information.
  
  

Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms should: 

• Stay home.
• Get evaluated by a health care provider.
• Get tested for COVID-19.
• View the WDMCS COVID-19 exposure guidelines for more information.   
  
  

Students with a positive COVID-19 test result:

• Must stay home until no longer infectious.
• Can return to normal activities:
• 10 days after symptoms first appeared AND
• After 24 hours without fever with no fever-reducing medications AND
• When symptoms of COVID-19 are improving.
• This does not include loss of taste/smell, which may persist after recovery.
  
  

If your student is ill, contact your school nurse prior to returning to school. Further guidance or clearance from a health care provider may be necessary before they can return to the classroom. 

Students with a diagnosed illness other than COVID-19 may return to school: 

• After 24 hours without fever with no fever-reducing medications AND
• Other symptoms are improving. 
  
  

Students with the following symptoms must remain home or be sent home from school:

• Fever, vomiting, or diarrhea in the last 24 hours.
• Persistent nasal congestion, reddened eyes, sore throat, persistent cough, or headaches.
• Unexplained and/or undiagnosed skin rashes.
• Any other health condition that may impact the health and well-being of the student and others, as determined by the school nurse.

To minimize the spread of illness, report contagious diseases to the school nurse.

• Contagious diseases: COVID-19, influenza, measles, whooping cough, hepatitis A, tuberculosis, chickenpox, etc. 
   

The school nurse or another school representative will contact you if your child becomes ill or seriously injured at school.

• It is very important to provide an emergency contact and keep it updated throughout the year. If a parent/guardian cannot be reached, other individuals listed on the emergency form will be contacted.  
• Students must be picked up within one hour after being contacted unless arrangements have been made with the school nurse or administrator.