Quarantine and Contact Tracing

NOTE: MCPS, at the advisement of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), follows Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for masking, isolation and quarantine.

• MDH
• CDC

Beginning March 1, MCPS will be moving from a 10-day isolation and quarantine period for students to a 5-day isolation. if certain health conditions are met. This aligns with our requirements for staff, and the recommendations of the CDC, Maryland Department of Health and our local DHHS.

Isolation – Students who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for 5 days.

• If on day 5 the student has no, or improving, symptoms and has been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication, the student may return to in-person instruction on Day 6.
• Day 1 for positive students is the day after on-set of symptoms or day after the date tested if asymptomatic.

Revised Isolation Guidelines for Staff

• Staff who test positive for COVID-19 or have suspected COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, must stay home for at least 5 full days from the date of symptom onset if symptomatic or the date of the positive test if no symptoms.
• After Day 5, if the individual has no symptoms without the use of fever-reducing medication, the individual may return to school as long as they wear a well-fitting mask when around others for an additional 5 days, and as required by MCPS and MSDE guidelines regarding mask use in schools.  
• If the individual is unable to wear a mask when around others, they should remain at home for at least a full 10 days.