Covid-19 Information

COVID-19 positive - NYC Department of Health

What You Need to Know About COVID-19 Now

Based on updated health guidance, instead of a minimum isolation period, people with COVID-19 should stay home and away from others based on their symptoms, similar to how they would for other respiratory infections, like flu and RSV.

If someone has COVID-19 symptoms, they should still get tested and separate from others immediately. It is recommended that they stay home until, for at least 24 hours, they have had no fever without taking fever-reducing medicine and other COVID-19 symptoms have improved. If they test positive for COVID-19 but have no symptoms, there is no need to stay home, but precautions outlined in the updated guidelines should be taken upon return to school. New York City Public Schools will continue to provide COVID-19 tests in schools upon request.

Updated guidance on COVID-19 policies for staff and the current leave policy is available on the InfoHub.

Thank you,

New York City Public Schools Division of Human Resources

COVID-19 Isolation and Exposure Guidance Tool

This tool shows you what to do if you have been exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19. It contains a few short questions. You will not have to provide any personal information. https://a816-health.nyc.gov/covid19help

See which one applies to you? https://a816-health.nyc.gov/covid19help

Two people standing next to each other. One is wearing a mask, the other has their head turned and is coughing.

Find a Testing Site

Many health care providers and pharmacies offer testing.

Here are some resources to help you find low to no cost testing:

- COVID-19: Express Testing: Schedule an appointment at one of the Health Department's free Express testing locations, which usually return test results within a few hours. Testing is available regardless of immigration status.

- NYC COVID-19 Test Site Finder: Find locations to pick up free at-home tests at over 200 locations.
NYC Health + Hospitals Testing Sites: NYC Health + Hospitals patients can make an appointment for testing, treatment or vaccination at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health by calling 1-844-NYC-4NYC.

Get Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests

You can pick up free at-home rapid antigen tests at NYC museums, zoos, libraries and other locations throughout the city.

To find a location near you, visit NYC At-Home COVID-19 Test Kit Pickup.

Face Covering

March 7 Face Covering Update

Masking- Face coverings are strongly recommended to be worn when indoors. As of December 9, 2022, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has issued a universal indoor masking recommendation(Open external link) for all indoor settings, including schools and daycare centers, given very high rates of flu and other respiratory conditions.Masks will be made available at the school for all those who need/want them.
- Students and staff, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask when:
  - Returning to school on the sixth day after testing positive for COVID-19, through day 10 after symptom onset or date of positive test, whichever is earlier, including when traveling on a school bus. Masks may be removed during this period if the person has received two negative rapid tests 48 hours apart.
  - Entering the school medical room, nurse’s office, or school-based health center.
  - Exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 at school.
- Students and staff, regardless of vaccination status, are also strongly recommended to wear a mask:
  - When they were exposed to someone with COVID-19, whether the exposure occurred in school or outside of school. The person should wear a mask for 10 days after their last day of exposure and get tested at least 48 hours apart.
  - When they are moderately-to-severely immunocompromised, and masking is recommended by their healthcare provider.
  - In crowded outdoor settings.