MOORESVILLE — A Mooresville family is frustrated over the state's policy on students with symptoms of COVID-19 getting sent home from school.
If a student receives a negative COVID-19 test, they still must isolate for at least 10 days unless they receive an alternate diagnosis.
Third-grader William Denny was sent home Monday from Newby Memorial Elementary School.
"When I picked him up he was coughing. It was a strong really deep cough," his dad, Michael Denny, said. "Had him take his face mask off when we were in the truck within a minute or less he completely stopped coughing."
Michael believes William had an allergic reaction to the laundry detergent and fabric softener used to wash his mask.
William and Bradley, Michael's younger son, were both tested for COVID-19 at a Community Health Network drive-thru site and received negative test results.
"I get it, if my kids are really sick I would totally absolutely keep them home no questions asked," Christine Hittel, their mom, said. "Absolutely. But because I know both my kids aren't sick. I'm frustrated."
The Mooresville Consolidated School Corporation is following the guidance from the Indiana State Department of Health.
The guidance states if a student has a cough, fever, or headache, and they get negative test results, there is a 30 percent chance of having a false negative test. The guidance says the student must isolate at home for at least 10 days without having an alternate explanation on a doctor's note.
Hittel and Michael are concerned the problems they are dealing with now could be an issue again later this school year.
"As soon as the nurse at the school says I think it could be COVID all bets are off," Michael said. "They are out of school. What about a kid that has allergies? You go out and you play at recess and you come back in and you're sneezing."
A spokesperson for the school district says in a webinar by ISDH this week, it was mentioned they are looking for updated guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention on requiring a doctor's note and a negative test.
