Covid-19: modification of the duration of exclusion from school if in contact with an infected classmate

Given the favourable evolution of the health situation, the health protocol for the isolation of positive students applicable in schools, all levels combined, will be adjusted from the start of the new school year on Monday, February 21. The objective is to reduce the duration of compulsory school absence , and therefore the consequences for the organization of families, without reducing the level of health security.

Two situations may arise: low-risk contact cases and high-risk contact cases.

Low risk contact cases

This concerns, for example, the classmates of a student who is positive for Covid-19. There is no longer automatic expulsion from school in the situation where the contact case has not yet found to be positive during a test. If he refuses screening, he must however remain isolated for 7 days.

In the event of a positive test, the contact case will be excluded for 7 days unless he experiences no symptoms during the 48 hours following the positive result.

In all cases, careful respect for barrier gestures will be necessary.

High risk contact case

The contact case will immediately be excluded from school and invited to carry out a test. In case of refusal of screening, he will remain isolated for 7 days.

• If the test is positive, the contact case will have to stay away for 7 days unless no symptoms are experienced during the 48 hours following the positive result.

• If the test is negative, the contact case may return to school but must respect reinforced barrier gestures for 12 days and have their temperature taken twice a day.

In addition and in general, when a parent notices that their child has symptoms of Covid-19, they are invited not to send them to school and to consult a doctor who will indicate the procedure to follow.

The Prince’s Government is adapting the system according to health developments in order to guarantee face-to-face lessons as much as possible for all school levels in the interest of the quality of education.

How to Know if You are a Low Risk or High Risk Contact 

Low risk contact:

Person who was in the same room/closed environment with a COVID-19 case, but no cumulative contact of at least 15 min within a distance of <1.5m:

High risk contact (or close contact):

Person with cumulative contact of at least 15 min within a distance of <1.5m (face to face), for example in a conversation, includes all friends (especially for adolescents) if non respect of distancing measures.

Person who was in the same room/closed environment with a COVID-19 case for more than 15 min, where a distance of 1.5m could not be kept or when objects were shared:

– household contacts
– a section of a nursery
– possibly classroom neighbours ≥6 years.

Person having had physical contact with a COVID-19 case:
– household contacts
– friends at schools while playing/cuddling (especially for younger children).