Managing Possible and Positive COVID-19 Cases at ISP

In the event of a positive case of COVID-19 at ISP, we will inform the entire community, and the affected grade level families will receive additional information about the steps they need to take. Please note that the school will not disclose individuals' names or health details in any of our communications.

Parents of children in the affected grade must arrange to pick up their child or authorise their departure from school as soon as possible.  In the event of a grade closure, this will take effect immediately, so as to permit families to begin the required initial testing process on Day 0. 

You will see a summary of the ISP protocols for Primary and Secondary School students below as well as in the section 'When may my child or my child’s teacher, identified as a 'contact at risk', return to school?'

ISP also immediately contacts and informs the French Health Authorities (ARS - l’Agence Régionale de la Santé).  ISP transmits to the ARS the list of possible contacts (children in the same classes, staff, etc).

As always, if someone in your household tests positive for COVID-19, you must immediately inform the school and follow the protocols as set forth for a positive COVID-19 case.

We will continue to use our email system (ISP News) to inform the community regarding all COVID-19 updates, including positive cases and protocols for any affected grades. In certain instances, we will add a message via SMS from our emergency contact system in order to ensure that parents receive the information in a timely manner and can make the necessary and required arrangements.

Please make sure that your contact details are up to date, and that you notify us of any changes to your primary email or cell phone numbers. You can communicate any updates to reception@isparis.net at any time.

If there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Primary School, the whole grade level will close for 7 days. Students in that grade will move as soon as possible into Online Home Learning, and you will receive a summary email about the Online Home Learning program at that time.

Students in grade 1 to grade 5 are required to be tested with an antigenic (pharmacy) or RT-PCR (laboratory) test:

• immediately upon determination that the student is a contact case (Day 0); AND
• 7 days after their last contact with the positive COVID-19 patient (Day 7).

The parent/legal guardian must provide an attestation which confirms the +7 day test has been completed and the result is negative. With this attestation, the child may return to school (the grade will reopen on Day 8).  This attestation is available here.

In the absence of this attestation, the student must remain out of school until it is provided, for a maximum of 14 days.

Students in Early Years (nursery. pre-k and kindergarten) are not required to be tested for COVID-19 and may return to school when it reopens on Day 8.  However, it is strongly recommended that the student have a RT-PCR saliva test prior to returning to school. These saliva tests are now available at a number of laboratories in Paris and are routinely performed on children under 6 years old.

If there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 for a student in the secondary school, the whole grade level will be required to be tested on Day 0 and Day 7.  However, the protocols are slightly different for students who are vaccinated (and for whom we have a complete vaccination attestation), and those who are not vaccinated. Students in the affected grade will move as soon as possible into Online Home Learning, and you will receive a summary email about the Online Home Learning program at that time.

Students in Grade 6 - 12 who are fully vaccinated (and for whom we have a complete vaccination attestation) are required to be tested with a lateral flow (self) test, antigenic (pharmacy) or RT-PCR (laboratory) test:

• immediately upon determination that the student is a contact case (Day 0); AND
• 7 days after their last contact with the positive COVID-19 patient (Day 7).

Note 1 - Students may return to school the next day (Day 1), provided they have a negative result from their Day 0 test and we have a signed attestation of full vaccine coverage.

Note 2 - If a student experiences any symptoms, or is determined to be a high-risk contact, they will be required to be tested with an antigenic (pharmacy) or RT-PCR (laboratory) test, as self-tests are not as reliable and are not recommended by the health authorities in such instances.

Students in Grade 6 - 12 who are not fully vaccinated are required to be tested with an antigenic (pharmacy) or RT-PCR (laboratory) test:

• immediately upon determination that the student is a contact case (Day 0); AND
• 7 days after their last contact with the positive COVID-19 patient (Day 7).

Note 1 - Students must remain out of school for the 7 day quarantine period, and will follow the Online Home Learning program during that time.

Note 2 - The parent/legal guardian must provide an attestation which confirms the +7 day test has been completed and the result is negative.  With this attestation, the child may return to school on Day 8. This attestation is available here.  In the absence of this attestation, the student must remain out of school until it is provided, for a maximum of 14 days.

In the event that a student (regardless of vaccination status) has documented proof of a positive COVID case within the past two months (antigenic or PCR test result), that student may also return to school on Day 1. The parent/legal guardian must provide an attestation which confirms this, and which will be made available at that time.

In France, you are considered to have a complete vaccination cycle for COVID-19 when you have completed the required injections (1, 2, or 3, depending on your health profile) of Pfizer, Moderna or Astra Zeneca (at least 7 days following the last required injection) or Janssen (at least 4 weeks following injection).

The EU approved vaccines are: Cominarty® - Pfizer, COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna®, Vaxzeria® - Astra Zeneca, Covishied® - Astra Zeneca and Covid-19 vaccine - Janssen®.

You can find more information on the approved vaccinations from the European Medicines Agency.

Please follow the link below for the attestation which indicates your child has received a full and complete vaccination cycle for COVID-19.  This attestation must be returned to our school nurse team at ispnurse@isparis.net.  

Sign Attestation Link Here

If you have been vaccinated in the EU, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, Switzerland, UK (England and Wales only), you already have an EU Digital Covid Certificate, which is accepted in France (you do not need a separate COVID certificate).

If you have been vaccinated outside these geographic areas with a vaccine that is accepted by the European Medicines Agency, you can apply for a COVID certificate by sending in the required documentation and filling out the application form.

Separate email addresses are in place to receive your application, depending on your place of residence and if you are a French national.

All information can be found in English on the France Diplomacy website here - 

• For tourists vaccinated abroad - LINK HERE
• For French nationals and their dependents vaccinated abroad - LINK HERE

Siblings of any student designated as a contact at risk (regardless of moderate or high risk) may come to school normally, as long as there are no symptoms in the family.

Brothers and sisters of confirmed COVID-19 cases are not permitted to attend school, unless they are fully vaccinated and have recieved a negative antigenic or PCR test from Day 0 testing.

Even if they have no symptoms, vaccinated individuals should wear a mask at home and should isolate themselves from infected family members.  If a child, or any memebr of your immediate household, tests positive for COVID-19, the strict quarantine is mandatory for all unvaccinated members of the family.

We understand the challenges of isolating a persons within a household, oftentimes in an apartment setting.  If you feel you cannot effectively isolate vaccinated children from other positive members of the family, they should not attend school, regardless of the results of their Day 0 test.  We will put in place Online Home Learning for children in such case.

You may please see a detailed description of the steps to follow when designated as a moderate or high risk contact at risk:

Santé Publique Information Brochure - English translation

We will set up appropriate online home learning for students who must be out of school as possible contacts or high risk contacts at risk, as well as those students who are COVID-19 positive. The learning will take place through our Online Home Learning Website, and we will contact families with the details within approximately 24 hours. Instructions regarding Online Home Learning can be found on our website, COVID-19 and Learning.

• The student is placed in the isolation room, respecting all barrier gestures and wearing a mask.
• ISP contacts the parents.  Parents must immediately come to pick up their child from school, or may provide authorisation for Middle/High School students to leave school unaccompanied.  Attention must be paid to respect all barrier gestures and to avoid others (for example, do not take public transportation).
• The family should immediately consult a physician.  A student who has presented COVID-19 symptoms may not return to school unless they have consulted a physician.

The student may return to school:

• If their parents provide a written attestation (see Attestation Link HERE) noting they have consulted a physician and a COVID-19 test was not prescribed.

• Otherwise, the student may return to school after 7 days (if there is no fever).

Students in pre-school are not required to wear a mask. 

One positive COVID-19 case amongst students implies that their classmates are contacts at risk.  The exact scope of the closure (class/grade/campus) will be defined through conversations between the school and ARS (typically 7 days).

However, a positive COVID-19 case of a staff member does not automatically imply that students or fellow staff members are contacts at risk. This will be defined through the conversations with the school and ARS. 

(Please see ‘What happens if a student or a staff member at ISP test positive for COVID-19’  and 'What happens where there is a positive case in the primary school?' above).

One positive COVID-19 case amongst students implies that their classmates are contacts at risk.  The exact scope of the closure (class/grade/campus) will be defined through conversations between the school and ARS (typically 7 days).

However, a positive COVID-19 case of a staff member does not automatically imply that students or fellow staff members are contacts at risk. This will be defined through the conversations with the school and ARS. 

(Please see ‘What happens if a student or a staff member at ISP test positive for COVID-19’ and 'What happens where there is a positive case in the primary school?' above).

One positive COVID-19 case amongst students requires a protocol for contact tracing to determine who may be a high risk contact at risk.  The protocols are slightly different for students who are vaccinated (and for whom we have a complete vaccination attestation), and those who are not vaccinated.

If there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 amongst students in the secondary school, the whole grade level will be required to be tested on Day 0 and Day 7.  The grade level will close on Day 0, the time for all students (vaccinated and unvaccinated) to be tested. 

Fully vaccinated students may return to school the next day (Day 1), provided they have a negative result from their Day 0 test and we have a signed attestation of full vaccine coverage.

Students who are not vaccinated must remain out of school for the 7 day quarantine period, and will follow the Online Home Learning program during that time.

(Please see ‘When may my child, identified as a 'contact at risk', return to school?’ and 'What happens when there is a positive case in secondary school?' for additional details.)

A grade or campus may also be closed at the discretion of the ARS depending on the exact circumstances/number of positive cases.

A positive COVID-19 case of a staff member does not automatically imply that students or fellow staff members are contacts at risk. This will be defined through conversations between the school and ARS.

The student may return to school 7 days following their last contact with the positive COVID-19 patient.  

This is only possible if the student does not have any symptoms of COVID-19.

There is not an obligation for the student to be tested for COVID-19.  However, it is strongly recommended that the student have a RT-PCR saliva test prior to returning to school.  These saliva tests are now available at a number of laboratories in Paris and are routinely performed on children under 6 years old.

If there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 amongst students in the Primary School, the whole grade level will close for 7 days.

Students in grade 1 to grade 5 are required to be tested with an antigenic (pharmacy) or RT-PCR (laboratory) test:

• immediately upon determination that the student is a contact case (Day 0); AND
• 7 days after their last contact with the positive COVID-19 patient (Day 7).

The parent/legal guardian must provide an attestation which confirms the +7 day test has been completed and the result is negative. With this attestation, the child may return to school (the grade will reopen on Day 8).  This attestation is available here.

In the absence of this attestation, the student must remain out of school until it is provided, for a maximum of 14 days.

If there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 amongst students in the secondary school, the whole grade level will be required to be tested on Day 0 and Day 7.  However, the protocols are slightly different for students who are vaccinated (and for whom we have a complete vaccination attestation), and those who are not vaccinated. 

Students in Grade 6 - 12 who are fully vaccinated are required to be tested with a lateral flow (self) test, antigenic (pharmacy) or RT-PCR (laboratory) test:

• immediately upon determination that the student is a contact case (Day 0); AND
• 7 days after their last contact with the positive COVID-19 patient (Day 7).

Note 1 - Students may return to school the next day (Day 1), provided they have a negative result from their Day 0 test and we have a signed attestation of full vaccine coverage.

Note 2 - If a student experiences any symptoms, or is determined to be a high-risk contact, they will be required to be tested with an antigenic (pharmacy) or RT-PCR (laboratory) test, as self-tests are not as reliable and are not recommended by the health authorities in such instances.

Students in Grade 6 - 12 who are not fully vaccinated are required to be tested with an antigenic (pharmacy) or RT-PCR (laboratory) test:

• immediately upon determination that the student is a contact case (Day 0); AND
• 7 days after their last contact with the positive COVID-19 patient (Day 7).

Note 1 - Students must remain out of school for the 7 day quarantine period, and will follow the Online Home Learning program during that time.

Note 2 - The parent/legal guardian must provide an attestation which confirms the +7 day test has been completed and the result is negative.  With this attestation, the child may return to school on Day 8. This attestation is available here.  In the absence of this attestation, the student must remain out of school until it is provided, for a maximum of 14 days.

In the event that a student (regardless of vaccination status) has documented proof of a positive COVID case within the past two months (antigenic or PCR test result), that student may also return to school on Day 1. The parent/legal guardian must provide an attestation which confirms this, and which will be made available at that time.

The staff member is required to be tested for COVID-19 with an antigenic or RT-PCR test: (1) immediately upon determination that the staff member is a contact case; AND (2) 7 days after their last contact with the positive COVID-19 patient.  These timeframes are important so as to be sure that there is not a false negative result and to help detect any potential variant.

The vaccination status of the staff member determines whether or not they may continue to go to work following the initial test on Day 0, or if they must observe a strict 7-day quarantine (moderate vs high risk).

The staff member must provide an attestation (see attestation link HERE) which confirms the test has been completed and the result is negative.

In the absence of this attestation, unvaccinated staff members must remain out of school until it is provided, for a maximum of 14 days.

All these periods of absence will have to be covered by an "arrêt de travail".

The earliest a student may return to school is ten full days following the day on which they tested positive (e.g. student may return on day 11 – day 1 is the day after testing positive).

The earliest a student may return to school is ten full days following the day on which they began to show symptoms (e.g. student may return on day 11 – day 1 is the day after first showing symptoms).