Merkel Independent School District

The state has updated Covid school exclusion criteria to align with other respiratory illnesses like the flu.

Students can return when fever free (less than 100.0) for 24 hours without use of fever reducing medicine.

We no longer have to report doctor diagnosed Covid cases to the health department.

Updated COVID-19 Guidance

03/13/2024

Title: COVID-19 Exclusion Criteria
The Texas Department of State Health Services has updated its school exclusion criteria to align the requirement for COVID-19 with those for other respiratory viruses like flu. Students now only need to be excluded from school until they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. You can find the current school communicable disease chart at School Communicable Disease Chart