Here's how Wisconsin parents can prevent COVID-19 as students head back to school

Alex Groth, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Respiratory viruses are expected to rise as students make their way back to school in the next few weeks across Wisconsin.

Already, COVID-19 is appearing in wastewater at higher levels than at the same time last year and hospitalizations of patients with COVID-19 increased by around 20% last month in parts of the state, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Here's what you need to know about COVID-19 and how to prepare for the upcoming school year.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Typical COVID-19 symptoms can show up 2 to 14 days after contact with the COVID-19 virus. People with COVID-19 may only have a few symptoms, and can have none. Some people can have symptoms that progress about 7 to 14 days after symptoms start. According to the Mayo Clinic, COVID-19 symptoms can include:

  • Dry cough

  • Shortness of breath

  • Loss of taste of smell

  • Extreme tiredness, also known as fatigue

  • Digestive issues, such as upset stomach, vomiting, or diarrhea

  • Pain, such as headaches, body or muscle aches

  • Fever or chills

  • Cold-like symptoms, such as congestion, runny nose, or sore throat

Do most recent COVID-19 variants have different symptoms?

According to the CDC, current SARS-CoV-2 variants do not cause more severe disease than the original strain or other variants.

Where can I get COVID-19 testing in Wisconsin in 2024?

The Wisconsin DHS does not offer free COVID-19 self-testing, but they are widely available to purchase at local pharmacies and stores.

According to the DHS, you can contact your doctor or primary health care provider, pharmacy or local community health center to see if they offer testing. Local or Tribal health departments may also offer COVID-19 testing.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has more information on its website for people searching for tests after the public health emergency ended in 2023. You can also get free COVID-19 testing if you are uninsured and symptomatic. More information is located here.

When should you keep your child home from school?

According to Milwaukee Public Schools, you should keep your child home with the following COVID-19 symptoms:

  • Fever (100 degrees or higher), chills or shaking shills

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

  • New loss of taste or smell

  • Muscle aches or body aches

  • Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)

  • Sore throat (in combination with other symptoms)

  • Nausea and vomiting (in combination with other symptoms)

  • Headache (in combination with other symptoms)

  • Fatigue (in combination with other symptoms)

  • Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes like allergies)

Symptoms (Child tests negative for COVID-19 or symptoms are due to other illness):

  • Fever of 100.4 degrees or above

  • Throwing up or vomiting

  • Diarrhea

  • Persistent coughing

  • Rashes from unknown causes

  • Headache

  • Any health concern where the child is unable to learn

How long is COVID-19 contagious?

The CDC advises people to wait to return to normal activities at least 24 hours after symptoms subside and you no longer have a fever.

How to prevent back-to-school illness in Wisconsin:

Make sure your child is up-to-date on all routine childhood vaccinations, including the annual flu vaccine in the fall. You can find a list of required immunizations here, and can check your child's vaccination record through the Wisconsin Immunization Registry.

Schedule any routine childhood health care visits or well visits, which can help prevent conditions and illnesses.

To prevent COVID-19, the DHS recommends washing hands frequently, wearing masks at school and on the bus, staying 6 feet from others when possible and getting vaccinated when eligible.

How to treat COVID-19:

People with COVID-19 usually can recover at home, and some require additional medical care. Mayo Clinic recommends the following medications to help with symptoms:

  • Fever reducers

  • Pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen

  • Cough syrup or medicine

For those who are at high risk of severe COVID-19, your doctor may prescribe medicine such as Paxlovid and Lagevrio. These medications stop COVID-19 from replicating, which reduces the risk of severe COVID-19.

What is long COVID?

Symptoms for long COVID can last weeks, months or years, according to the CDC. General symptoms include tiredness or fatigue, symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort, fever. You can find a full list of symptoms on the CDC's website.

Most people with long COVID see improvement after three months, and other people may see improvement up to six months after the virus, according to the CDC. Long COVID symptoms can result in disability.

RELATED: What vaccinations are required in Wisconsin before kids start school in fall

RELATED: New report calls attention to lagging Wisconsin childhood vaccination rates

Midwest Connect Gannett contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Prevent COVID-19 illness during back-to-school 2024 in Wisconsin

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