COVID-19
COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions
Updated March 4, 2022
Do students, faculty, and staff still need to wear a mask?
What should I do if I know that my child has been exposed to COVID-19?
New York State has established updated Quarantine/Isolation Protocols.
Based on the updated procedures, parents/guardians should self-report when their student meets the definition of close contact while out of school and is staying home due to quarantine. In that case, we ask that you contact one of our school nurses to provide the dates of quarantine, or complete and share a quarantine affirmation form. This information will then be passed along to the appropriate building principal.
What if my child has COVID symptoms?
Any student with symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, must have a negative lab NAAT test, lab antigen test, or two negative over-the-counter antigen tests (taken 24-48 hours apart depending on manufacturer instructions) to return to school.
If you need a test kit, please contact your child’s school nurse.
If your child tests negative for COVID, the child must still meet the following three conditions to return to school:
- Be fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication
- Not have a productive cough, cannot be coughing up phlegm
- Not have a runny nose
Will the school continue to call if my child is absent?
What If my child tests positive for COVID-19?
Please be advised that all positive test results need to be reported immediately to your child's school using this Positive Test Affirmation Form and positive cases are still subject to isolation protocols.
The exclusion from school for students who test positive for COVID or for unvaccinated students who are close contacts of a COVID positive individual has been shortened from ten days to five days. Under specific conditions, these students may return to school on Day 6 of their exclusion.
- How Do I Determine Day 6 for a child who has tested positive?
- If your child is symptomatic, Day 0 is the day of the onset of symptoms
- If your child is asymptomatic, Day 0 is the day your child was tested
- For example:
- Day 0
-
- Symptom onset or tested positive
- Day 1: Stay home
- Day 2: Stay home
- Day 3: Stay home
- Day 4: Stay home
- Day 5: Stay home
- Day 6: Return to school if asymptomatic
-
- Day 0
- What Are the Specific Conditions for Returning on Day 6 for a child who has tested positive?
-
- Not have a fever for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication
- Have resolution of symptoms or all symptoms improving
- Not have a runny nose
- Have no more than minimal, non-productive cough (i.e., not disruptive to work and does not stop the person from wearing their mask continuously, not coughing up phlegm)
Does my child need to wear a mask when returning from isolation?

Do I need to communicate with the school while isolated/quarantined?
- Affirmation of Quarantine
- Complete this form if you or your child/dependent:
- Has been identified as a close contact to a COVID-19 positive person during their contagious period AND
- Was not up to date on COVID-19 vaccination, including booster shot, at the time of exposure to a COVID-19 positive person during their contagious period AND
- Have been in quarantine.
- Complete this form if you or your child/dependent:
- Affirmation of a Positive COVID-19 Test
- Complete this form if you or your child/dependent has tested positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status.
- Student Affirmation of Negative Over-the-Counter Antigen Test Results
- Regardless of vaccination status, if a student has COVID-19 symptoms they must have a lab negative NAAT, lab antigen test, or two negative Over-the-Counter (i.e., at-home or take-home) antigen tests taken 24-48 hours apart, depending on the specific manufacturer’s instructions, in order to return to school. Complete this form if you are are presenting the district with two negative Over-the-Counter antigen tests.
- Request for At-Home COVID-19 Tests
- Complete this form if you are in need of additional home COVID-19 tests.
Where can I find COVID-19 Tests?
The response to the COVID pandemic is being refocused from contact tracing and quarantine to a system that now emphasizes monitoring and testing.
One of the keys to ensuring the success of this new approach is rigorous symptom monitoring. Given the large number of positive cases in our region, the safest assumption is that we are all exposed on a regular basis and as such should be mindful of any COVID associated symptom.
Easily accessible testing is the second key to this new approach. Testing sites are now open at SUNY Canton and SUNY Potsdam. Information for these test sites is available at the following links:
Additionally, the federal government has launched a website that allows families to order free Over-the-Counter Antigen COVID-19 tests. By visiting covidtests.gov, each household can secure up to four (4) tests for personal use.
- In order to secure your tests, you will need to enter your contact information and shipping address. Please note that this offer is limited to four (4) tests per household, so if any individual has entered the same shipping address, you will not be able to order additional tests.
If you are unable to access the website or need additional support placing your order, please call 1-800-232-0233.
Each week, New York State is supplying home test kits to schools. Unfortunately, the shipments received are only a fraction of what is needed to send home with each student. Test kits will be supplied on a first come, first serve basis as our supply allows.
If you wish for the school to send a test kit home with your child, please complete a Request for At-Home COVID-19 Tests.
Please note that the home tests provided by New York State and distributed to school families require two negative tests taken 24-48 hours apart depending upon manufacturer instructions. It is important to note that a child who tests negative with a home test may not be able to return to school until a second test is administered. This may exclude a child from school for two or more days.
Home tests are to be reported to Public Health (only if positive) at Positive Home Test Result ReportingHas there been a change to the return to play protocols for athletes who test positive?
COVID-19 Case Reporting
The Ogdensburg City School District is now utilizing the New York State COVID-19 Report Card to report positive cases. Community members can consult this dedicated page to learn about the total number of newly reported cases. Please be aware that all reports are subject to change as additional case information is received.
Community Eligibility Program (CEP)
ARP-ESSER Documentation
American Rescue Plan (ARPA) - NYSED Approved January 18, 2022