Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated recommendations for how people can protect themselves and their communities from respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. In response, Albemarle County Public Schools has updated our COVID-19 guidance and practices.

Please visit our COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies web page for details, including helpful information on the steps you can take if you have symptoms of a respiratory virus* and what to do if you test positive for COVID-19. We’ve also updated our guidance on when students and employees can return to normal activities following a respiratory illness.

Questions? If you are a school-based employee, please contact your school nurse or the ACPS Coordinator of Nursing and Health Services, Eileen Gomez. If you are a department-based employee, please contact your supervisor or the HR Program Manager for Safety & Wellness, Michelle Bailey.

*In addition to the virus that causes COVID-19, there are many other types of respiratory viruses, including influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Symptoms of a respiratory virus include fever, difficulty breathing, loss of taste and smell, more than a minor cough and sore throat, chills, aches, behavior changes (in children), and/or significant fatigue not attributable to other causes. While not typically associated with respiratory viruses, children with COVID-19 or flu can present with vomiting and diarrhea.