Managing Possible and Positive COVID-19 Cases at ISP

ISP provides lateral flow (self tests) to all students.  Our weekly community testing day is on Sunday.  Should any student receive a positive test result from their self test, they must immediately inform the school (ispnurse@isparis.net) and begin their isolation.  It is recommended that they proceed to take an antigenic (pharmacy) or RT-PCR (laboratory) test in order to confirm the result.  

A positive case of COVID-19 is defined as a positive result from either an self test, antigenic (pharmacy) or RT-PCR (laboratory) test.  In the event you or your child tests positive from a lateral flow (self) test, you must immediately isolate and it is strongly recommended to have an antigenic or RT-PCR test in order to confirm the results.

In the event of a positive case of COVID-19 at ISP, we will inform the affected grade level families who 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.

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.

The student may immediately return to school with a negative self test (lateral flow), antigenic (pharmacy) or RT-PCR (laboratory) test result from Day 0. 

There are further testing requirements with a negative self test on Day 2, as well as Day 4.  Whilst parents do not need to provide separate attestations for these tests, they are required to complete the testing protocol on Day 2 and Day 4 and must immediately inform the school in the event of a positive result.

Sign Day 0 negative test Attestation Link Here

The Day 0, Day 2 and Day 4 self tests will be provided by the pharmacy upon presentation of proof the child is a contact case from school.  These self tests will be free of charge to all those with a French health card.

Return and remaining in school is only possible if the student does not have any symptoms of COVID-19.

In the absence of the antigenic or RT-PCR test results from the Day 0 test, the student must remain out of school until it is provided, for a maximum of 7 days.  This can be reduced to 5 days upon presentation of an antigenic or RT-PCR test taken on Day 5.

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 subsequently thereafter.  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, or who are younger than 12 years old. Students in the affected grade who are 12 years and older and who are not fully vaccinated 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 younger than 12 years old:

Students younger than 12 years old are not required to isolate, and may continue to attend in-person learning if they: 

• provide a negative test result from a self-test, antigenic or RT-PCR test taken on Day 0; AND
• they self-test negative on both Day 2 and Day 4.

Note - Students will need to submit an attestation on Day 1, noting their age and that their Day 0 self-test/antigentic/RT-PCR test was negative.

Sign Attestation Link Here

Students 12 years and older who are fully vaccinated:

Students 12 year and older who are fully vaccinated (and for whom we have a complete vaccination attestation) are not required to isolate, and may continue to attend in-person learning if they:

• provide a negative test result from a self-test, antigenic or RT-PCR test taken on Day 0; AND
• they self-test negative on both Day 2 and Day 4.

Note - Students will need to submit an attestation on Day 1, noting their vaccination status and that their Day 0 self-test/antigentic/RT-PCR test was negative.

Sign Attestation Link Here

Students 12 years and older who are not fully vaccinated:

Students 12 years and older who are not fully vaccinated are required to observe a 7 day isolation period, as well as the following testing requirements via antigenic or RT-PCR 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 will 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.

Sign Attestation Link Here

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®.

As of January 15, 2022, all adults 18 years and older will be required to have a booster shot in order for their pass sanitaire to remain valid.  The booster shot can happen as of 5 months following the last injection.  In the absence of this booster shot, the pass sanitaire will be deactivated seven months after the last injection.

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 can be returned to our school nurse team at ispnurse@isparis.net.  

Sign Attestation Link Here

Please follow the link below for the attestation which indicates your child has taken and received a negative result for their Day 0 test (via self test, antigenic or RT-PCR test). This attestation must be provided to the school at the gate.  

Sign Day 0 negative test Attestation Link Here

Please follow the link below for the attestation which indicates your child (contact at risk) may attend in-person learning (younger than 12 years old or fully vaccinated) and has received a negative test result from their Day 0 self test, antigenic or RT-PCR test.  This attestation must be returned to our Secondary School leadership team.  

Sign Day 0 negative test Attestation Link Here

Siblings of any student designated as a contact at risk may come to school normally, as long as they have no symptoms. 

Children who test negative on Day 0, Day 2 and Day 4 may continue to attend school, even if household members are positive.  However, these children cannot attend school if they are symptomatic (even if their test is negative).  We also ask that families pay close attention to their individual circumstances and to contact us with any questions or concerns.

We will set up appropriate online home learning for students who must be out of school as 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.

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.

• 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.  All students in the grade level must immediately be tested with an antigenic or RT-PCR test.  The grade level will be closed as of 3 confirmed cases within a 7 day period (closure period of 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.  All students in the grade level must immediately be tested with an antigenic or RT-PCR test.  The grade level will be closed as of 3 confirmed cases within a 7 day period (closure period of 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 immediately return to school with a negative self test (lateral flow), antigenic (pharmacy) or RT-PCR (laboratory) test result from Day 0.  RT-PCR saliva tests are also available at a number of laboratories in Paris and are routinely performed on children under 6 years old.

There are further testing requirements with a negative self test on Day 2, as well as Day 4.  Whilst parents do not need to provide separate attestations for these tests, they are required to complete the testing protocol on Day 2 and Day 4 and must immediately inform the school in the event of a positive result.

Sign Day 0 negative test Attestation Link Here

The Day 0, Day 2 and Day 4 self tests will be provided by the pharmacy upon presentation of proof the child is a contact case from school.  These self tests will be free of charge to all those with a French health card.

Return and remaining in school is only possible if the student does not have any symptoms of COVID-19.

In the absence of the self test, antigenic or RT-PCR test results from the Day 0 test, the student must remain out of school until it is provided, for a maximum of 7 days.  This can be reduced to 5 days upon presentation of an antigenic or RT-PCR test taken on Day 5.

The student may immediately return to school with a negative self test (lateral flow), antigenic (pharmacy) or RT-PCR (laboratory) test result from Day 0. 

There are further testing requirements with a negative self test on Day 2, as well as Day 4.  Whilst parents do not need to provide separate attestations for these tests, they are required to complete the testing protocol on Day 2 and Day 4 and must immediately inform the school in the event of a positive result.

Sign Day 0 negative test Attestation Link Here

The Day 0, Day 2 and Day 4 self tests will be provided by the pharmacy upon presentation of proof the child is a contact case from school.  These self tests will be free of charge to all those with a French health card.

Return and remaining in school is only possible if the student does not have any symptoms of COVID-19.

In the absence of the self test, antigenic or RT-PCR test results from the Day 0 test, the student must remain out of school until it is provided, for a maximum of 7 days.  This can be reduced to 5 days upon presentation of an antigenic or RT-PCR test taken on Day 5.

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 subsequently thereafter.  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, or who are younger than 12 years old. Students in the affected grade who are 12 years and older and who are not fully vaccinated 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 younger than 12 years old:

Students younger than 12 years old are not required to isolate, and may continue to attend in-person learning if they: 

• provide a negative test result from a self-test, antigenic or RT-PCR test taken on Day 0; AND
• they self-test negative on both Day 2 and Day 4.

Note - Students will need to submit an attestation on Day 1, noting their age and that their Day 0 self-test/antigentic/RT-PCR test was negative.

Sign Attestation Link Here

Students 12 years and older who are fully vaccinated:

Students 12 year and older who are fully vaccinated (and for whom we have a complete vaccination attestation) are not required to isolate, and may continue to attend in-person learning if they:

• provide a negative test result from a self-test, antigenic or RT-PCR test taken on Day 0; AND
• they self-test negative on both Day 2 and Day 4.

Note - Students will need to submit an attestation on Day 1, noting their vaccination status and that their Day 0 self-test/antigentic/RT-PCR test was negative.

Sign Attestation Link Here

Students 12 years and older who are not fully vaccinated:

Students 12 years and older who are not fully vaccinated are required to observe a 7 day isolation period, as well as the following testing requirements via antigenic or RT-PCR 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 will 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.

Sign Attestation Link Here

The staff member is required to be tested for COVID-19 with a self test, antigenic or RT-PCR test: (1) immediately upon determination that the staff member is a contact case; AND (2) 2 and 4 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 and the subsequent self tests on Day 2 and Day 4, or if they must observe a strict quarantine.

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 10 days.

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

The isolation periods for students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 are as follows (Day 0 as of positive test date):

1. The isolation period for students younger than 12 years old (regardless of vaccination status) is 7 days.  This isolation period may be reduced to 5 days, if the child has no further symptoms (fever, etc) within the past 48 hours and the result of an antigenic of RT-PCR test taken on Day 5 is negative.
2. The isolation period for students 12 years and older and for staff who are fully vaccinated is 7 days.  This isolation period may be reduced to 5 days, if the child or staff member has no further symptoms (fever, etc) within the past 48 hours and the result of an antigenic of RT-PCR test taken on Day 5 is negative.
3. The isolation period for students 12 years and older and for staff who are not fully vaccinated is 10 days.  This isolation period may be reduced to 7 days, if the child or staff member has no further symptoms (fever, etc) within the past 48 hours and the result of an antigenic of RT-PCR test taken on Day 7 is negative.

The isolation periods for students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 are as follows (Day 0 as of date from which symptoms appear):

1. The isolation period for students younger than 12 years old (regardless of vaccination status) is 7 days.  This isolation period may be reduced to 5 days, if the child has no further symptoms (fever, etc) within the past 48 hours and the result of an antigenic of RT-PCR test taken on Day 5 is negative.
2. The isolation period for students 12 years and older and for staff who are fully vaccinated is 7 days.  This isolation period may be reduced to 5 days, if the child or staff member has no further symptoms (fever, etc) within the past 48 hours and the result of an antigenic of RT-PCR test taken on Day 5 is negative.
3. The isolation period for students 12 years and older and for staff who are not fully vaccinated is 10 days.  This isolation period may be reduced to 7 days, if the child or staff member has no further symptoms (fever, etc) within the past 48 hours and the result of an antigenic of RT-PCR test taken on Day 7 is negative.