New NY guidelines for ‘test to stay’ allow antigen tests

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — New New York State Department of Health (DOH) guidelines for “test to stay” allow students to use more types of COVID-19 tests to get back to class if they have COVID-like symptoms.

Students can now provide a negative NAAT or antigen test result, regardless of their vaccination status.

The guidelines also make it possible for students to return if a healthcare provider makes a diagnosis diagnoses a student with a different illness and COVID-19 is not suspected and provides a note.

The DOH does note in the guidelines that at this time, it does not recommend “test to stay”, but is putting the guidelines forward so that if local health departments choose to allow test to stay in school districts, they know what they must ensure.

Students still need to be fever-free without medication and be symptom-free in order to return to class, but this way, students who have tested negative for COVID-19 aren’t kept out of class once they’re feeling better.

Read the full guidelines below (mobile users, click here):

DOH Memo for Local Health Departments 12.3.21 by News10NBC on Scribd