Sumner-Bonney Lake Schools Shortens Quarantine Requirements

SUMNER, WA — As of this week, students, teachers and staff at Sumner-Bonney Lake School District schools only need to quarantine and isolate for five days after a positive COVID-19 test or a close contract with a confirmed COVID-19 patient. Previously, district guidelines required a 10-day isolation period.

According to the school district, the change brings its guidelines in line with new guidance from the Washington state Department of Health.

Under the new guidelines:

• Students or staff who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate at home for at least five days. They can return to school five days after symptoms began, or five days after a positive test if they had no symptoms. To return to class, they must not have had a fever within the last day, and will need to continue wearing a mask and monitoring themselves for symptoms for five days after returning to the classroom.
• Students or staff who have come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 also need to quarantine for five days after their last close contact with that person. Students and staff who are vaccinated, and boosted if eligible, do not need to quarantine.

To return to school, students and staff must also present a negative COVID-19 test. Most tests will do, including rapid antigen tests, home tests, or tests from healthcare providers.