COVID-19

Types of Tests

There are two primary types of COVID-19 tests, antigen tests (commonly referred to as ‘rapid tests’) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests. They are compared and contrasted in the following table.

Adapted from UC Davis Health, Different types of COVID-19 tests explained.

Where to Access Testing

Individuals may reach out to the following resources to schedule testing:

• Visit ourshot.in.gov for local vaccine clinics
• Visit scheduling.coronavirus.in.gov for local testing sites
• Call 211
• Reach out to your local pharmacy

When scheduling, click ‘I don’t have a registration code’ and choose an appointment time. Testing is free for all Hoosiers. Bring a state-issued ID, work ID, or utility bill to prove residency. When you arrive, it may be a good idea to clarify you are there to receive a PCR test.

If desired, you can also schedule PCR tests at CVS and Walgreens.

Yes. Due to updated guidance from health officials, Avon Schools is now able to accept results from at-home COVID-19 tests. Students who test negative will be eligible to return to school with the test result. Positive students will also be eligible for the 90-day exemption on the basis of their test result. 

To submit the results of an at-home COVID-19 test:

• Write the test date and your child's name on the test.
• Take a photo of the test that clearly shows the result, your child's name, and the test date.
• Send a picture of the results to your child's school nurse via email.

Visit our school nursing webpage for school nurse email addresses.

School Nursing Webpage

The following is a summary of how we will be interpreting and implementing recent updates to the Indiana Department of Health's guidance for the duration of our mask mandate. 

• Preschool, Elementary & Intermediate Schools: We will continue to track positive cases and notify close contacts in unmasked settings. This is no change from what we have been doing and exceeds the requirements of the latest guidance. 
• Middle & High Schools: Per Department of Health guidance, we are suspending contact tracing activities during the school day while our mask requirement is in place. 
• Extracurricular Activities: We will continue to contact trace and notify as we have been. 

No. We have streamlined the number of notifications we're sending to parents/caregivers. We will only notify you if your child is a close contact with someone who tests COVID+. If you need more information, view this helpful message from Superintendent Dr. Wyndham.

The latest guidance from the  Indiana Department of Health is as follows:

Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 shall isolate, including exclusion from school, preschools, daycare settings, employment, and public places, for at least 5 days following the onset of symptoms or, if asymptomatic, at least 5 days from the date of collection of the positive test. Following the 5-day isolation period, the individual must wear a mask when around others for an additional 5 days. Before discontinuing isolation, an individual must be at least 24 hours fever-free without fever-reducing medications and having symptoms improve.

In all instances, guests are asked to adhere to the mask protocols currently in effect at the school they are visiting.

At this point, health officials and the IHSAA have not issued requirements for athletes to wear masks during indoor athletic competitions. Nor have they required masks for attendees. Attendees are asked to follow the mask protocols in-effect at the school at which they are attending the competition.

We work closely with our athletic trainers and coaches to implement COVID protocols on our athletic teams.

COVID-19 prevention and mitigation strategies (e.g., masks, cleaning, social distance, etc.) fall under the authority of the school board and administration. However, the Health Department outlines quarantine guidelines whenever there is a positive case.  To date, the only way for Avon Schools to reduce quarantines that is supported by local and state health officials is to require masks. This reduces the quarantine radius from 6 feet to 3 feet.​

Yes. This is highly encouraged.  When students are working quietly at their desks and facing the same direction, teachers will allow students to have mask breaks.  Many teachers will also have a desk or space in the classroom where individual students can go for mask breaks.  Masks do not need to be worn when outside (e.g., recess, PE, etc.).

Since COVID-19 vaccination is not required to attend school, there is no effective way to monitor mask wearing and vaccination status.​ The local/state health department has indicated that the only way to reduce the number of quarantines in our schools is to require masks for all individuals (reducing quarantine radius from 6 feet to 3 feet).

Students will continue to work with their teacher on Schoology to complete work while they are at home. Students can access Schoology via the Students page on our website.

If a student has tested positive in the past 90 days, they are exempt from quarantine guidelines. However, the State Department of Health wants all close contacts to be notified, even if they are exempt from quarantine. When you are notified, please reach out to your school nurse or contact the COVID phone to confirm when your student tested positive and to confirm it is documented that they are exempt from quarantine. 

Extra masks will be available on buses and at schools. In order to sustain our supply, please plan to send your child to school with their own mask. 

As long as your child remains asymptomatic, you have three options: 

#1 – Your child can complete the quarantine as directed and return afterward. 

#2 – Your child can return on day 8 with a negative PCR test result administered during days 5-7 post exposure or a rapid test administered on day 8.  No at-home COVID-19 tests will be accepted.   

#3 – Your child can return immediately if you provide proof of full vaccination (15 days after second shot).  If your child is told to quarantine multiple times, this may be requested each time. You can securely email proof of vaccination to covidvaccine@avon-schools.org. 

Regardless of which option a parent selects, you will receive communication from the State Department of Health as a result of being identified as a close contact.

Yes, once you have shared rapid test results with your child's school nurse.