Changes to the way most school districts in Missouri handle Covid-19 exposure

According to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s updated guidance procedures, proper mask-wearing may now prevent students from being identified as close contacts in K-12 schools that have implemented a mask mandate.

This means that if both individuals at school – the person diagnosed with COVID-19 and the person exposed to the positive case – have masks on and are wearing them correctly, the student exposed does not need to quarantine.

This should drastically change the number of students that have been sent home to quarantine.

DESE recommends that exposed students self-monitor for symptoms and stay home at the first sign of illness.