Quarantine at school, how does it work?.

Quarantine at school, how does it work?.

After the summer holiday, the rules for quarantine after an infection in the class changed. Students and teachers who are considered immune to corona no longer have to quarantine after an infection in the class. This raises many questions. Below are the main questions and answers.

When Are You Considered Immune?

This depends on several things. Like if you are vaccinated, for how long, and if you have had the coronavirus before. Roughly, students (and teachers) are immune if they are fully vaccinated and had their last jab two weeks ago (or longer). Also, students (and teachers) who had corona less than 6 months ago are immune. The exact definition of when someone is considered immune can be read in the relevant guidelines from the RIVM.

Who Decides If A Student Must Quarantine?

This is decided by the GGD based on the source and contact investigation (BCO) and the current test and quarantine policy. So the GGD decides if a student gets a quarantine advice based on information they have, not the school.

What Happens If Students Are Contacts From The Source And Contact Investigation (BCO)?

Then they or their parents receive more information from the GGD by phone and/or letter about testing, quarantine, and what is expected from them.

Can A School Send Students Home If They Are Not Vaccinated?

The school may not send a student home just because they are not vaccinated. The school does not have access to BCO data from the GGD and may not record who is vaccinated without explicit permission from parents. This is sensitive (medical) data. It is the GGD who gives any quarantine advice to the student, not the school.

Can A School Keep Track Of Which Students Are In Quarantine And For How Long?

No, unless the student and parent give explicit permission. The same privacy rules apply as with vaccination.

Can A Child Who Has A Quarantine Advice From The GGD Be Refused At School?

The school may not ask if a student received this advice from the GGD, because it is confidential information. Parents and students may share this information. When parents inform the school that a student has a quarantine advice but the student still comes to school, the school may send the student home. The school can do this based on the duty of care for a safe school climate. This also applies when a child comes to school, for example, with chickenpox. The school is advised to make good agreements with the school participation council to avoid surprises and difficult situations.

Can A School Ask For Vaccination Proof?

No. A student or staff member does not have to say if they are vaccinated.

Can A School Ask For Proof Of A Negative Corona Test?

No, this is not allowed.

Do Students In Quarantine Get Distance Learning?

If a whole class must quarantine, the school must provide an alternative education offer. This also applies to students with vulnerable health.

Schools are not required to give distance learning to individual students who are sick for a short time or in quarantine. But the school can give students homework or instruction videos or ask them to join remotely, while other students get physical lessons at school.

In the case of an infection in class, it is usually not about an individual student but a group. Most students are not yet considered immune. When a group must quarantine, it is up to the school to think about offering hybrid education (partly physical, partly digital), giving distance learning, or giving homework and other assignments. If a whole class is advised to quarantine, you can expect the school to switch to distance learning for that class.

Other Question?

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