- Ashland Public Schools
- COVID-19 Testing
Home
Page Navigation
COVID-19 Testing
-
We strongly encourage all students and staff to get tested if they have symptoms, regardless of vaccination status. Symptoms may include a new onset cough, scratchy throat, sneezing, runny nose or congestion, muscle aches, tiredness, fever, or a new loss of taste or smell.
If a student or employee develops any symptoms, they should stay home from school and get tested for COVID-19.
Low or no-cost COVID-19 tests may be available at the following locations.
- at pharmacies or clinics across the Commonwealth. Find an appointment-only or a walk-in location at testinglocator.cdc.gov/Search.
- online or in pharmacies and retail stores. If you have health insurance through an employer or Marketplace, your insurance may reimburse you for at-home tests you purchase. Visit covid.gov/tests for the latest information.
- through your healthcare provider. Contact your primary care physician or healthcare provider for testing options.
- in the Board of Health Office located on the 2nd floor of Town Hall. Free test kits may be available during Town Hall hours.
This information is subject to change. Please contact the provider or location to verify test kit availability and pricing information.
-
What are the testing guidelines for students or employees who develop symptoms at home or school ?
If the symptomatic individual is at school when symptoms develop, they will be evaluated by the school nurse. If a student or staff member has symptoms at home, they should stay home.
Schools will no longer be testing in the health office.
Symptomatic individuals should use a rapid antigen self-test kit to determine if their symptoms are related to COVID-19. If the test is negative and symptoms are mild, they may return to school as long as they have been fever free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, and they are feeling well.
If an individual tests positive, please notify the school nurse.
-
What are the testing guidelines for students or employees who are exposed to COVID-19?
If a student or staff member is exposed to COVID-19 (regardless of their vaccination status), they no longer need to quarantine and may attend school/work as long as they do not have symptoms.
If symptoms develop, follow the guidance for symptomatic individuals.
-
What should students or employees who test positive do?
- Children and staff who test positive must isolate for at least five full days. To count days for isolation, Day 0 is the first day of symptoms or the day the positive test was taken, whichever is earlier.
- If individuals do not have symptoms or symptoms are resolving, and they have been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours, they may return to school on Day 6 and must wear a high-quality mask through Day 10.
- Please notify the school nurse of a positive test result.
- Retesting is not required to return to school.
