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Gates Chili Central School District

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Seasonal flu and COVID-19

Preventing seasonal flu and other illness

The Gates Chili Central School District is committed to keeping our students, staff and the community healthy and informed. This page provides essential information about the seasonal flu and COVID-19, including prevention tips, symptoms to watch for, and guidelines to help reduce the spread of illness. Explore resources to stay prepared and protect yourself and those around you throughout the year.

Tips to reduce the spread of influenza (flu):

  • Keep your student home if they have flu-like symptoms
    • If your student has a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or greater and one of the following symptoms: a cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, fatigue, body aches, headache, vomiting or diarrhea.
    • Keep sick students home until they are fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing drugs like Tylenol or Motrin.
    • Students staying home should also avoid contact with others except to get medical care as needed, and stay away from after-school activities and other public areas such as the mall, movie theatres, etc
  • Pick up your sick student in a timely manner.
    • There are times when flu symptoms will surface during the school day. Having a plan to pick children up as soon as possible will help prevent the spread of the flu.
  • Make sure that the school has accurate contact information.
  • Remind your children to wash their hands often.
    • Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water is the most effective prevention to help prevent the spread of the flu.
  • Remind your children to cover coughs and sneezes.
    • The use of tissues and then the proper disposal of the used tissues are important. If a tissue is not available, a cough or sneeze into an elbow or arm is helpful.
  • Remind your children to avoid sharing personal items.
    • This includes items such as drinks, food or eating utensils. 

Free flu vaccines

Monroe County Health Department
111 Westfall Rd., Rochester, NY 14620
Phone: 753-5150

There is a walk-in vaccine clinic every Wednesday from 12-6 p.m. (no appointment necessary)

Learn more about influenza from these sources:

COVID-19 information

The previous guidelines for a return to school required a ten-day isolation period. Monroe County has adopted new guidelines in regards to isolation periods shortened from 10 to five days for staff AND students. This means, staff and students may return to school on day 6 provided they adhere to the below requirements. Please review the below information carefully and consult the Monroe County Department of Public Health for additional information

    • Anyone ages 5 or older and who has received all CDC recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including booster(s) if eligible and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people.  
    • Anyone who has had confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days (tested positive using a viral test, e.g. antigen or PCR).  

    • Wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days from the date of last close contact with someone with COVID-19  
    • Get tested at least 5 days after the date of last close contact with someone with COVID-19. If test is positive or COVID-19 symptoms develop, isolate and follow recommendations  
    • Anyone who had COVID-19 within the last 90 days and has since recovered and remained symptom-free, does not need to get tested after close contact with someone with COVID-19.  

    • Anyone who is not up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations.  
    • Anyone who is not vaccinated or has not completed a primary vaccine series. 
    • Anyone ages 5 or older who has completed the primary vaccine series and is eligible for a CDC recommended booster shot (1st or 2nd), but has not received it. 

    • Exposed or potentially exposed (e.g. in a classroom with an infected individual for at least 15 minutes) students, teachers, and staff who must quarantine because they are not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines (i.e., are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or are eligible for a booster(s) but have not received them) can attend or work at school, school-based extracurricular activities, and eligible childcare programs for school-age children during the quarantine period if they undergo recommended testing. However, these individuals must continue to quarantine as otherwise required outside of school.