Schools and Child Care COVID-19
Parent and Caregiver Information
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) provides recommendations for schools, child care settings, youth programs, and camps to slow the spread of COVID-19. Different settings have varying requirements or processes for determining which COVID-19 prevention strategies to implement. Contact your school, child care, youth program, or camp for more information about their specific requirements, recommendations, or strategies.
On this page:
When your child is sick or has been exposed
Vaccines
Testing
Recommendations for K-12 schools
Recommendations for child care
When your child is sick or has been exposed
You can spread COVID-19 to others starting a couple days before you have any symptoms, and even if you never have any symptoms. If you spend time close to someone with COVID-19, you may have it, too, but you may not know it. It is important to stay home when you are sick and separate yourself from others after you have been close to someone with COVID-19 to keep from spreading the virus to others.
- COVID-19 Isolation Guide for Schools, Child Care, and Youth Programming (PDF)
For people who are sick or test positive.
3/15/22
- COVID-19 Quarantine Guide for Schools, Child Care, and Youth Programming (PDF)
For people who are in close contact (exposed) to a person with COVID-19.
3/15/22
The COVID-19 Decision Tree for Schools and Child Care has been retired and is replaced by the isolation and quarantine guides below. These guides reflect current CDC recommendations regarding when to isolate and quarantine and for how long depending on a person's ability to wear a mask consistently.
Vaccines
Everyone 5 years and older should get a COVID-19 vaccination to help protect against COVID-19.
On Jan. 5, 2022, FDA and CDC authorized emergency use of a single booster shot for people 12-17 years of age at least five months after completing their primary series of Pfizer vaccine. Refer to Vaccine doses for more information.
Parents can find vaccine locations and more information about the COVID-19 vaccine for their children at State of Minnesota: COVID-19 Vaccine for Children and Teens.
Find additional resources and information at CDC: COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens.
- Top Four Reasons to Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine (PDF)
Fact sheet for young people.
Updated 11/3/21
- Top Four Reasons to Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine in Amharic (PDF)
- Top Four Reasons to Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine in Arabic (PDF)
- Top Four Reasons to Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine in Chinese (PDF)
- Top Four Reasons to Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine in French (PDF)
- Top Four Reasons to Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine in Hmong (PDF)
- Top Four Reasons to Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine in Karen (PDF)
- Top Four Reasons to Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine in Lao (PDF)
- Top Four Reasons to Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine in Oromo (PDF)
- Top Four Reasons to Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine in Russian (PDF)
- Top Four Reasons to Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine in Somali (PDF)
- Top Four Reasons to Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine in Spanish (PDF)
- Top Four Reasons to Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine in Vietnamese (PDF)
- How to hold your child during a vaccination (PDF)
Fact sheet with images and instructions for different comfort holds. Created in partnership with Homeland Health Specialists.
11/5/21- How to hold your child during a vaccination in Amharic (PDF)
- How to hold your child during a vaccination in Arabic (PDF)
- How to hold your child during a vaccination in Chinese (PDF)
- How to hold your child during a vaccination in French (PDF)
- How to hold your child during a vaccination in Hmong (PDF)
- How to hold your child during a vaccination in Karen (PDF)
- How to hold your child during a vaccination in Lao (PDF)
- How to hold your child during a vaccination in Oromo (PDF)
- How to hold your child during a vaccination in Russian (PDF)
- How to hold your child during a vaccination in Somali (PDF)
- How to hold your child during a vaccination in Spanish (PDF)
- How to hold your child during a vaccination in Vietnamese (PDF)
- Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine for People Under 18 Years Old (PDF)
Learn more about parental consent for people under 18 years old, and how to find a vaccine appointment for this age group.
Updated 11/3/21
- Pfizer Vaccine for People Under 18 Years Old in Amharic (PDF)
- Pfizer Vaccine for People Under 18 Years Old in Arabic (PDF)
- Pfizer Vaccine for People Under 18 Years Old in Chinese (PDF)
- Pfizer Vaccine for People Under 18 Years Old in French (PDF)
- Pfizer Vaccine for People Under 18 Years Old in Hmong (PDF)
- Pfizer Vaccine for People Under 18 Years Old in Karen (PDF)
- Pfizer Vaccine for People Under 18 Years Old in Lao (PDF)
- Pfizer Vaccine for People Under 18 Years Old in Oromo (PDF)
- Pfizer Vaccine for People Under 18 Years Old in Russian (PDF)
- Pfizer Vaccine for People Under 18 Years Old in Somali (PDF)
- Pfizer Vaccine for People Under 18 Years Old in Spanish (PDF)
- Pfizer Vaccine for People Under 18 Years Old in Vietnamese (PDF)
Because children and youth with specialized health needs and disabilities may be at higher risk for more severe illness from COVID-19, families and caregivers are asked to strongly consider vaccinating children 5 years and older with any underlying health condition or disability.
- COVID-19 Vaccine for Youth with Special Needs or Disabilities: Information for Caregivers (PDF)
Includes guidance for requesting accommodations when making appointments or arriving at a vaccine site.
Updated 11/16/21
- COVID-19 Vaccine for Youth with Special Needs or Disabilities in Amharic (PDF)
- COVID-19 Vaccine for Youth with Special Needs or Disabilities in Arabic (PDF)
- COVID-19 Vaccine for Youth with Special Needs or Disabilities in Chinese (PDF)
- COVID-19 Vaccine for Youth with Special Needs or Disabilities in French (PDF)
- COVID-19 Vaccine for Youth with Special Needs or Disabilities in Hmong (PDF)
- COVID-19 Vaccine for Youth with Special Needs or Disabilities in Karen (PDF)
- COVID-19 Vaccine for Youth with Special Needs or Disabilities in Lao (PDF)
- COVID-19 Vaccine for Youth with Special Needs or Disabilities in Oromo (PDF)
- COVID-19 Vaccine for Youth with Special Needs or Disabilities in Russian (PDF)
- COVID-19 Vaccine for Youth with Special Needs or Disabilities in Somali (PDF)
- COVID-19 Vaccine for Youth with Special Needs or Disabilities in Spanish (PDF)
- COVID-19 Vaccine for Youth with Special Needs or Disabilities in Vietnamese (PDF)
Learn more at Disabilities and Unique Health Needs During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Testing
Please check with your child care provider or school district to see if they have testing requirements or if they are offering a regular testing program.
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COVID-19 Testing Recommendations (PDF) Testing grid based on vaccination status. |
Where to get tested
There are several COVID-19 testing options available, including community (rapid and saliva) and at-home testing. Many COVID-19 tests are free, but a health care provider may charge for their time.
Refer to Community Testing: Which community testing site should I use for the description of the free options offered by the state of Minnesota, including options for infants and kids.
Refer to Find Testing Locations for all testing locations, including clinics or hospitals.
Recommendations for K-12 schools
- All people ages 5 years and older should get vaccinated for COVID-19 while participating in in-person school, sports, or other activities to protect themselves and people around them who cannot get vaccinated. Talk to a health care provider or Find Vaccine Locations near you.
- People and communities, including schools, should follow recommendations based on CDC: COVID-19 Community Levels to help inform decisions about masking based on their local context and unique needs.
- High COVID-19 community level: Wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public spaces, regardless of vaccination status.
- Medium COVID-19 community level: People who are immunocompromised, more likely to develop severe disease, or who have contact with a person who is immunocompromised or more likely to develop severe disease should wear a mask indoors in school/child care settings.
- Low COVID-19 community level: Schools may choose to implement added prevention as needed in the event of a facility outbreak.
- At all COVID-19 community levels, people can also choose to wear a mask based on personal preference or personal level of risk. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask when recommended by isolation and quarantine guidance.
- Schools should maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within classrooms whenever possible. When it is not possible to maintain 3 feet of distance between students, it is especially important to layer other prevention strategies.
- Students, teachers, and staff should stay home if they feel sick and should contact a health care provider for testing and care.
- Students, teachers, and staff who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines or have tested positive within the last three months do not need to stay home even if they have had recent close contact with a confirmed case so long as they do not have symptoms and do not test positive. Follow CDC testing guidance for anyone exposed to a confirmed case.
- Schools should encourage ventilation, contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine, handwashing, respiratory etiquette, cleaning, and disinfection as important layers of prevention.
- Best Practice Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools: Key Messages in Amharic (PDF)
- Best Practice Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools: Key Messages in Arabic (PDF)
- Best Practice Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools: Key Messages in Chinese (PDF)
- Best Practice Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools: Key Messages in French (PDF)
- Best Practice Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools: Key Messages in Hmong (PDF)
- Best Practice Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools: Key Messages in Karen (PDF)
- Best Practice Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools: Key Messages in Lao (PDF)
- Best Practice Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools: Key Messages in Oromo (PDF)
- Best Practice Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools: Key Messages in Russian (PDF)
- Best Practice Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools: Key Messages in Somali (PDF)
- Best Practice Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools: Key Messages in Spanish (PDF)
- Best Practice Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools: Key Messages in Vietnamese (PDF)
Recommendations for child care
Child care settings will continue to have both vaccinated and unvaccinated people as there is not a vaccine approved for children under 5 years of age available yet. For this reason, it is strongly recommended that child care settings continue to implement layered prevention measures to the extent possible while also considering educational needs, the social and emotional well-being of children, and the importance of children's access to learning and care.
- MDH recommends that child care operators follow CDC: COVID-19 Guidance for Operating Early Care and Education/Child Care Programs.
More information
CDC: Know what to Expect at Your Child's K-12 School or Early Care and Education Program