Coronavirus Information

List of 10 frequently asked questions.

• Q. Do students, faculty and staff need to wear a mask while on campus?

  For the health and safety of all students, faculty and staff, masks are to be worn at all times while on campus, including the parking lot and outdoor areas. Masks should be in place (over nose and mouth) before exiting your vehicle. Three types of masks are allowed:

  • Loyola issued mask or those purchased from the LoyolaWear store.
  • Disposable masks. Disposable masks should be thrown away at the end of every school day.
  • Reusable masks. Reusable masks should be cleaned after every use.

  Disposable and reusable masks may not include logos, images or words. Masks with exhalation valves or vents and gaiter style masks are now allowed. 

• Q. When should I keep my child home?

  Any student experiencing a temperature at or exceeding 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or any other symptoms of COVID-19 including coughing; fever; chills; body aches; loss of sense of taste or smell; sneezing; runny nose; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; extreme fatigue; diarrhea; nausea/vomiting; or sore throat should stay home.
  
  If a student is experiencing even ONE symptom of COVID-19 including coughing; fever; chills; body aches; loss of sense of taste or smell; sneezing; runny nose; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; extreme fatigue; diarrhea; nausea/vomiting; or sore throat, then keep that child home as well as any siblings of the child with even one symptom. Any sick call divulging even one symptom of COVID will result in a follow up call from one of our school nurses. The ill child and all siblings will need to stay home until the ill child provides proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test OR a doctor’s note is provided stating that the symptoms the child is experiencing is NOT related to COVID-19 and an alternative diagnosis is given OR 10 days pass from the onset of symptoms.

• Q. What do I do if I decide to get tested for COVID-19?

  Self-quarantine/isolate at home until you have received your test results. If the test result is positive, isolate at home for 10 days from the positive test date. Report any positive case to our school nurse, Mrs. Corry Braasch at nurse@loy.org.

• Q. What if I test positive for COVID-19?

  • Quarantine at home for 10 days from start of symptoms; if you do not have symptoms, quarantine 10 days since your positive test date
  • Isolate the COVID-19 positive person alone in a room away from others
  • Report positive case to Loyola’s school nurse, Mrs. Corry Braasch at nurse@loy.org
  • May return to on campus classes and activities after 10 day quarantine, AND fever free for 72 hours without the use of fever free medicine AND other symptoms of COVID are improving
  • Must check in with the school nurse before returning to school or activities and email a "Release of Isolation" note from a doctor or proof of negative test result
  • Beginning on October 19, Loyola will only accept a molecular (RT-PCR) negative test result in order to return to school; antigen (rapid) test results are not valid proof of wellness.

• Q. What should I do if I'm told to quarantine?

  • Quarantine at home for 14 days of last exposure regardless of test results. Restart the 14 day quarantine if there is continued exposure to same positive individual. If a new household member tests positive with COVID-19 an you had close contact, restart the 14 day quarantine.
  • If COVID symptoms develop during the 14 day quarantine, quarantine for an additional 10 days from the start of the symptoms.
  • Follow all instructions from the Cook County Department of Public Health. They will notify you within 48 hours after receiving notification from Loyola Academy.
  • Visit the CDC website for more information.

• Q. What should I do when my quarantine is over?

  You must email your "Release from Isolation" or "Release from Quarantine" letter that you receive from your local health department OR a note from your physician to Mrs. Braasch at nurse@loy.org. You can NOT return to school/cocurricular activities until this letter or note is received by Loyola Academy.

• Q. What do I do if someone in my household tests positive?

  • Every family member in the same household must quarantine for 14 days from the last day of exposure to the individual who tested positive
  • The individual who tested positive for COVID-19 must be isolated from the rest of the family members in his or her own room or space
  • Notify our school nurse Mrs. Braasch at nurse@loy.org about any exposure to a positive case at home.

• Q. How does Loyola decide the number of students on campus for in-person learning?

  Our COVID-19 Recovery Team monitors key gating criteria daily to determine if a shift of our schedule is required or possible. Among the most important factors considered are: COVID cases; quarantines due to direct exposure, travel, or pending test results; positivity rates in suburban Cook County and the City of Chicago; contact tracing time; PPE supply; and the availability of Loyola personnel to staff all areas of the school. No single factor determines our decisions; rather, we consider the impact of combinations of the criteria.

• Q. What are Loyola Academy's travel guidelines?

  Students and employees who plan to travel internationally or domestically should use caution and evaluate travel plans at this time.
  
  The Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) recommends a 14-day quarantine for persons entering suburban Cook County from states and countries with a high incidence of COVID-19 infections. If you do choose to travel, please follow all safety precautions and guidelines of CCDPH.

• Q. Is there a 3rd quarter calendar showing the days students are on campus?

  Yes, please click here to see calendar.