Although PSCS is mask-optional, we highly encourage the use of masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, not only for our individual safety, but bearing in mind the safety of others.

Please also consider that masking is more critical when you have people at home or in your circle with respiratory illness or additional risk factors for COVID-19.

Updated boosters provide enhanced protection against current COVID-19 variants.

WA State Decision Tree (Covid Symptom/Exposure Flowchart)
COVID Symptom Comparison Chart (Snohomish County Health Dept.)

What do I do if I feel sick?

SCENARIO 1: You tested positive for COVID-19.

Stay home and self isolate, regardless of your vaccination status and regardless of whether or not you have symptoms.

Report your test status to the PSCS Administrative Team.

Do not go to school for at least 5 days since your symptoms started, 5 days since your test date (if you have no symptoms), or as instructed by your health provider. Follow CDC isolation procedures.

Did your symptoms improve after 5 days of isolation?

YES

  • End isolation after day 5 if you are fever-free for 24-hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved.

NO

  • Remain in isolation until you are fever-free for 24-hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved.

Individuals with weakened immune systems and those who have moderate or severe illness should talk with their healthcare provider before ending isolation.

FOLLOW ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS THROUGH DAY 10.

Wear a well-fitting surgical mask or KF94/KN95/N95 respirator for 10 full days when indoors around others at home and in public. Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask. Avoid travel and follow additional CDC precautions. Visit the CDC's COVID-19 Testing webpage for guidance on when to re-test.

SCENARIO 2: You were in CLOSE CONTACT with an individual who tested positive for COVID-19.

Close contact means you have been within 6 feet of someone in your home or indoors for any amount of time within the last 5 days (sibling, parent, friend, family, co-worker)—who tests positive for COVID-19.

In the event of close contact, you do not have to notify PSCS, unless your exposure was potentially related to school (and you have not already been notified by Admin). Of course you may feel you want to and that's fine.

Individuals with additional risk factors for COVID-19 complications should contact their healthcare provider now to ask about their treatment plan in the event of a positive test. Antiviral treatments are most effective if started soon after testing positive.

PSCS highly encourages the use of masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and, in particular, when you have people at home or in your close circle with respiratory illness or additional risk factors for COVID-19.

You have been in close contact, and you have symptoms of illness.

  • Stay home and isolate. Do not go to work and/or class, regardless of your vaccination status.

  • Wear a well-fitting, surgical mask or KF94/KN95/N95 respirator while waiting for your test results and while you have symptoms. Masking is highly encouraged if you go anywhere or are around others in your home.

  • Get tested immediately (PCR if you can, but rapid in-home antigen tests will suffice). Remain at home until you receive your test result.

    • Positive: Follow Scenario 1.

    • Negative: If you use an at-home rapid antigen test, continue to stay home and test again in 48 hours (or get a PCR test to confirm your results). Take at least two home tests. If you continue to test negative with a rapid antigen test or test negative via PCR, the public health recommendation is that you remain at home until your symptoms have improved, and that you may return to campus after you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication. Individuals with additional risk factors for COVID-19 or for flu complications should contact their healthcare provider right away to ask about influenza testing and treatment. Flu treatment is most effective if taken within the first two days of illness. 

You have no symptoms.

  • Get a PCR test or take a rapid antigen test at home right away.
  • If you are negative, you may return to work and/or class wearing a well-fitting, surgical mask or KF94/KN95/N95 respirator when around others at home and in public for at least 5 days.
  • Watch for symptoms through day 5. If symptoms develop, follow instructions in Scenario 2 With Symptoms.
  • Get a PCR test or take another rapid antigen test 5 days after known exposure.
    • Positive: Follow Scenario 1.
    • Negative: If you tested using an at-home rapid antigen test, test again with another at- home rapid antigen test in 48 hours or get a PCR lab test to confirm your result. Watch for symptoms and wear a mask around others outside of your household for at least 5 days since your last exposure. If you develop symptoms, follow instructions for close contacts with symptoms in Scenario 2.

Will you have ongoing close contact (e.g., household member has COVID-19)?

  • YES: Follow CDC guidance for ongoing exposure and contact pscs@pscs.org if you have questions.
  • NO: No further action is needed.
SCENARIO 3: You have one or more COVID-19 symptoms but no known exposure to a COVID-19 positive individual.

PSCS highly encourages the use of masks to remediate the spread of COVID-19 and, in particular, when you have people at home or in your close circle with respiratory illness or additional risk factors for COVID-19.

If you have one or more symptom (that seem unrelated to your usual allergies):

Test is Positive

Test is Negative

  • If you use an at-home rapid antigen test, continue to stay home until a second test is completed to confirm your result. A PCR test is the preferred second test and can be taken anytime, or you can wait 48-hours and then take another at-home rapid antigen test. Take at least two home tests 48-hours apart if PCR testing is not available.
  • Individuals with additional risk factors for COVID-19 and flu complications should contact their healthcare provider now to ask about further testing and a treatment plan in the event of a positive test. Antiviral treatments are most effective if started soon after testing positive
  • After confirming you are COVID-19 negative, you may return to school once your symptoms have improved and you have not had a fever in 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication).

PSCS Requirements & Protocols

In order to protect the health of our community, PSCS requires all students to be vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19, unless an approved medical or religious exemption has been appropriately filed. Students are required to verify their vaccination status along with their immunization status when they enroll and whenever they receive boosters.

PSCS requires all staff to be vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19, unless they claim an approved medical or religious exemption. This applies to all staff who receive compensation from the school such as wages, stipends, or fees, unless specifically excluded.

While there is not a blanket requirement for visitors to PSCS to verify their vaccination status, we do ask visitors, guests, and volunteers to have no new COVID-like symptoms or be awaiting results from a COVID test taken as a result of symptoms or a known exposure.

Reporting & Isolation

Extra care and diligence in testing and reporting cases and symptoms is critical. Any positive case of COVID-19 must be shared with the PSCS Administrative Staff as soon as discovered.

  • PSCS will notify the community when any member tests positive for covid.
  • Students and staff exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 must isolate for 5 full days after symptoms begin or a positive test. Students may return to school after 5 full days of isolation if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms have improved and they have had no fever for the past 24-hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications).
  • Students and staff who opt not to mask, we ask that you take a rapid test at the start of each week.
  • Masks are required for anyone who experiences a known exposure. They must follow the WA State Decision Tree to return to no mask. For 10 days after your last exposure:
    • Wear a mask when you are around others indoors
    • Do not go places you are unable to wear a mask
    • Monitor for symptoms
    • Avoid people at high risk for severe disease
  • Any staff may still require masks in particular circumstances (their own classroom, crowded settings, periods of long duration).
  • When PSCS has a case cluster of 5-10% of students or staff members who tested positive for COVID-19, we will send guidance to the community—which will likely include a return to community masking for at least ten calendar days.
  • PSCS staff will not offer hybrid as an option if you are out with illness this year. When a student is well enough, they are responsible for being in touch with facilitators. Outside work will continue to be made available via Google Classroom.

How does PSCS clean, disinfect, and ventilate facilities?

PSCS works to comply with guidelines from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for preventing the spread of coronavirus. The International Building's custodial team ensures there's soap, takes out trash and vacuums classrooms, common areas, and restrooms. Admin staff wipes down the school weekly with disinfecting wipes. In some areas, individual users must take responsibility for regularly cleaning and disinfecting equipment/items they share.

When a person diagnosed with COVID-19 is known to have been on campus, the specific locations where the individual spent time while potentially infectious are evaluated for cleaning and disinfection, in accordance with state and federal guidelines.

PSCS has hand sanitizer around the school, and masks available for all to use. We have installed air filters in every classroom and additional filters and fan/filters in every larger common space.

Vaccination attestation information is private and confidential:

  • Vaccination information is considered confidential medical information under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is exempted from disclosure under the Public Records Act.
  • Managers may not use, share or disclose this information for any purpose other than upholding compliance with state regulations.
  • Employees may not ask colleagues about their vaccination status.
  • Instructors may not ask their students about their vaccination status, nor will they have access to students’ records or be expected to confirm students’ vaccination status.

Symptoms and prevention

People with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms, from mild to severe. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms, including:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms, which may change with new COVID-19 variants and can vary depending on vaccination status.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, consider the following options:

What should I do if my symptoms are due to seasonal allergies?

Some seasonal allergy symptoms overlap with symptoms of COVID-19. Get tested for COVID-19 if you normally experience seasonal allergies and also have:

  • Any symptoms after a close contact exposure to an individual with COVID-19.
  • Any symptoms that are not typically associated with seasonal allergies, such as fever, chills, body aches, loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
  • Any new symptoms you don’t normally experience with seasonal allergies.
  • Allergy symptoms when you normally would not have them.
  • Allergy symptoms that don’t respond to your usual allergy medications.

If you have frequent, persistent seasonal allergy symptoms, you may want to consider getting tested regularly (once per week, for example). A PCR is more sensitive than a rapid antigen self-test and is recommended to rule out a COVID-19 infection.

Wear a high-quality, well-fitted mask indoors, especially around other people, when you are experiencing symptoms even if they may be due to seasonal allergies.

Some individuals choose to share information about their seasonal allergy symptoms and testing plan, however, no one is required or expected to share any personal medical information.

Follow the  COVID-19 Public Health Guidance and Requirements Flowchart if you have COVID-19  symptoms, close contact exposure, or test positive for COVID-19.

Difference Between Flu and COVID-19

Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2, and flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses. You cannot tell the difference between flu and COVID-19 by symptoms alone because some of the symptoms are the same. Some PCR tests can differentiate between flu and COVID-19 at the same time. If one of these tests is not available, many testing locations provide flu and COVID-19 tests separately. Talk to a healthcare provider about getting tested for both flu and COVID-19 if you have symptoms.

More information on COVID-19 vaccines

* Adapted from the University of Washington COVID-19 Protocols and Procedures.

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