Florida students do not have to quarantine after they are exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, leaving the decision up to individual families.
Dr. Joseph Ladapo, the newly-appointed surgeon general for Florida, signed new protocols for the state that allows parents to decide whether their children should quarantine after COVID-19 exposure or stay in school, according to NPR.
- Ladapo eliminated mandates that required students to quarantine for four days after they were exposed.
- The new guidelines allow for students to attend school “without restrictions or disparate treatment,” as long as they do not have COVID-19 symptoms.
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that quarantining students isn’t good for their well-being.
- “Quarantining healthy students is incredibly damaging for their educational advancement,” he said, per NPR. “It’s also disruptive for families. We are going to be following a symptoms-based approach.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in its guidelines that fully vaccinated students don’t necessarily need to quarantine at home after exposure.
- Unvaccinated students “should quarantine at home for 14 days after exposure,” according to the CDC.
- However, that number should be lower if someone tests negative for COVID-19 within that timeframe.
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The CDC recommends students, staff and faculty members wear masks in school, too.