Students in this state don’t have to quarantine after COVID-19 exposure

Florida students do not have to quarantine after they are exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, leaving the decision up to individual families.

Dr. Joseph Ladapo, the newly-appointed surgeon general for Florida, signed new protocols for the state that allows parents to decide whether their children should quarantine after COVID-19 exposure or stay in school, according to NPR.

Ladapo eliminated mandates that required students to quarantine for four days after they were exposed.

The new guidelines allow for students to attend school “without restrictions or disparate treatment,” as long as they do not have COVID-19 symptoms.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that quarantining students isn’t good for their well-being.

“Quarantining healthy students is incredibly damaging for their educational advancement,” he said, per NPR. “It’s also disruptive for families. We are going to be following a symptoms-based approach.”