Students, teachers who test positive for Covid-19 don’t need to retest before returning to campus

California workers and students who test positive for Covid-19 should not have to be retested for the virus before they are allowed to return to work or school, according to new guidance from the California Department of Public Health released Monday.

The decision was based on international studies that show that patients can test positive for the virus for up to three months after infection, although virus levels are too low to infect others.

Individuals who test positive can return to campuses and workplaces after at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared and after at least 24 hours have passed without a fever. Symptoms should also have improved, according to the Department of Public Health. People who test positive for Covid-19 but never develop symptoms can return to school or work 10 days after the test.

Previous guidance required a person to wait 72 hours after a fever before returning to work or school.