As with other illnesses that spread from person to person, COVID-19 outbreaks can happen in schools. There are ways your child's school can help prevent or stop infections. And there are ways you can help your family avoid getting sick.

Kids have about the same chance as adults of catching the virus that causes COVID-19. How often kids keep their germs to themselves is not clear. But there's at least some risk of a child bringing COVID-19 home from school and passing it to family members.

The good news is that schools and families can take actions to protect students' health, both every day and during illness outbreaks.

The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads on the breath of people who are infected. When you're outside, the natural airflow makes it less likely the virus a person breathes out will infect you.

When you're inside, or in a vehicle, keeping fresh air moving into the space lowers the amount of germs in the air.

Opening windows can help, along with using fans to pull outside air into rooms. If you're in spaces where you can't open windows or if your outside air quality is bad, using an air purifier may be an option.

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine protects against serious illness, the need for hospital care due to COVID-19 and death from COVID-19. Staying up to date with the latest vaccine is most important for people at higher risk. That includes adults over age 65, those with weakened immune systems, people who are pregnant, and people with chronic conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease or obesity.

Serious side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine are extremely rare. Because of that, even healthy adults benefit from the COVID-19 vaccine, which lowers the risk of serious illness at a rate similar to that of the flu vaccine.

The 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States include Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Novavax. The vaccines are all approved for people age 65 and older. Each vaccine also is approved for younger people with a health condition that raises the risk of serious COVID-19 illness.

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine 2025-2026 formulas:

• Spikevax. This vaccine is approved for all people age 65 and older and for people ages 6 months to 64 years with a risk of serious COVID-19 illness.
• Mnexspike. This vaccine is approved for all people age 65 and older and for people ages 12 to 64 years with a risk of serious COVID-19 illness.

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine 2025-2026 formula:

• Comirnaty. This vaccine is approved for all people age 65 and older and for people ages 5 to 64 years with a risk of serious COVID-19 illness.

Novavax COVID-19 vaccine 2025-2026 formula:

• Nuvaxovid. This vaccine is approved for all people age 65 and older and for people ages 12 to 64 years with a risk of serious COVID-19 illness.

Most people are up to date after one dose of the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine from any vaccine maker. Children ages 6 months to 23 months are up to date after two doses of Spikevax, spaced at least four weeks apart.

Hand-washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds can help stop the spread of germs at home and in school. For kids and adults who tend to hurry, keep washing until you sing the entire "Happy Birthday" song twice, which takes about 20 seconds.

Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water aren't available.

Have your child cover the mouth and nose with an elbow or a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Then throw the tissue in the trash and wash the hands right away. Remind your child to avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth.

Schools can make hand-washing easier by making sure all the supplies are ready for use.

Also, schools can build in time for kids and staff to wash hands. It's time well spent before eating, after going to the bathroom, or after coughing, sneezing or blowing the nose.

No one can avoid all germs, but there are ways to help lower the risk of illness.

Teaching good hygiene helps keep your child from missing school due to illness and helps keep your family safe from germs that could travel home.

Another option may be to get involved at your child's school. Learn about the school's policies on how to manage illnesses so you understand the risks and how to lessen them.

Face masks can protect you from breathing in germs. Face masks also can protect others from breathing in your germs if you're sick.

Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth, fits your face without gaps, and is comfortable for you to wear all day.

When the germs that cause COVID-19 are spreading in your area, masks can lower the risk of infection. But some people may choose to wear masks at other times.

Schools can support masking in a few ways.

• Teach students and staff about why people may choose to wear a face mask.
• Accommodate people who can't wear masks due to a disability.
• Provide access to clear masks that allow for lip reading.

Don't place a face mask on a child younger than age 2 or a person with a disability who can't safely wear a mask. It can be hard to find a mask that fits a child's face so be prepared to try more than one if needed.

Some masks may have instructions on how to make them fit without gaps. And you may need to teach your child how to put the mask on or take it off correctly.

COVID-19 vaccines are available for children age 6 months and older in the U.S. A COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses might prevent your child from getting the COVID-19 virus or becoming seriously ill or hospitalized due to COVID-19. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can also help keep your child in school and more safely participate in sports and other group activities too.

Improving ventilation in schools can reduce the number of COVID-19 virus particles in the air. Opening multiple windows and doors, using fans, or changing the heating, ventilation, air conditioning or air filtration systems can help. During transportation to and from school, keeping windows open a few inches also can improve air circulation.

Schools and parents should encourage students to frequently wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Children should cover their mouths and noses with an elbow or a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Children also should avoid touching their eyes, noses and mouths. To ensure thorough handwashing, kids can be taught to keep washing their hands until they have sung the entire "Happy Birthday" song twice (about 20 seconds).

Students who have symptoms of an infectious illness should stay home from school and get tested for COVID-19. Possible symptoms of COVID-19 in children include:

• Fever
• Cough that becomes productive
• Chest pain
• New loss of taste or smell
• Changes in the skin, such as discolored areas on the feet and hands
• Sore throat
• Nausea, vomiting, belly pain or diarrhea
• Chills
• Muscle aches and pain
• Extreme fatigue
• New severe headache
• New nasal congestion

Everyone with COVID-19 should stay home and isolate from others for at least five full days. School policies might vary on when a child who has had COVID-19 can return to school.

If you are recovering from COVID-19, the CDC recommends wearing the most protective face mask that you'll wear regularly, fits well and is comfortable. Wear the mask while you are around other people through day 10. Children who are too young to wear a mask should be cared for in as separate a space as possible by a caregiver who is wearing a mask.

Screening identifies people with COVID-19 who don't have symptoms and who don't have a known, suspected or reported exposure to COVID-19. This can help keep COVID-19 from spreading further.

If COVID-19 is spreading at a high level according to the CDC, schools might screen all students and staff who participate in activities that may involve a higher risk, such as:

• Choir or band
• Soccer, football or other sports that involve close contact
• Dances or sports tournaments

Schools also may screen students and staff before and after breaks, such as a holiday or spring break.

Schools vary in their use of screening. They may change requirements based on attendance by students at high risk of severe COVID-19. Or they may change requirements based on risk level in the community.

Contact tracing is the process of identifying people who may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. During an outbreak, contact tracing to help students and staff know when to stay home can help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Strategies such as improving ventilation or wearing a well-fitting mask also can help prevent further spread.

If your child's school does contact tracing, make sure you understand what steps your child needs to take after a COVID-19 exposure.

Cleaning once a day is usually enough to lower the risk of germs spreading from surfaces in schools. The CDC suggests schools have procedures for staff to follow after meals, after exposure to fluids such as blood or saliva, and after changing diapers.

Your child's school likely has a policy about illness and school attendance, but in general, there are some symptoms that are best managed at home. This includes fever, vomiting and loose stools, also called diarrhea. People with these symptoms are likely able to spread whatever germ they have.

If your child has COVID-19, talk to your child's healthcare professional. Most children recover quickly without serious illness.

Also, contact the school. Make sure you understand the school's policy on when your child can return to school.

Once your child is feeling better, the policy for getting back in the classroom may be clarified by the school. But generally, people can get back to their daily activities if the following are true.

• They haven't had a fever for 24 hours without taking medicine for fever.
• Respiratory symptoms are getting better.
• They can eat and drink without throwing up.
• Stools are back to what are typical.

Getting a vaccine, having good airflow and following good hygiene habits such as washing hands are basic steps to protect from infection. Wearing a face mask also may be part of your typical response.

But other actions may be needed during an outbreak of COVID-19. If the level of illness in the community is high, other steps can help manage the risk of getting sick.

• Schools and health agencies may communicate actions parents and caregivers can expect schools to take during this time.
• Schools may ask parents to look for certain symptoms.
• Schools may change the policy for when a person who is ill can come back to school. Some schools may test people who don't have symptoms to screen for COVID-19.
• Schools may put teachers and kids into separate groups, called cohorting. That way even if people in one group get sick, those in other groups may not.
• Schools may change where classes are held, focus on being outside or increase space between kids within the classroom.

Even if your family and your child's school carefully follow these prevention strategies, it's still possible for your child to get COVID-19. If your child tests positive for COVID-19:

• Talk to your child's health care provider. Keep your child home from school and away from others, except to get medical care.
• Focus on relieving your child's symptoms. This might include rest, plenty of fluids and use of pain relievers.
• Contact your child's school. Make sure you understand the school's policy on when your child can return to school. Find out if distance learning is an option while your child remains at home.
• Consider picking one person in your family to care for your sick child. Have that caregiver be with your child and separated from others in your home, when possible.
• Unfortunately, pets can catch COVID-19, so limit contact between your child and your pets.
• Call the health care provider if your child gets sicker. Emergency warning signs include trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, and pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips or nail beds — depending on your child's skin color.