Dear Parent(s) and Guardian(s):
Last evening, Sunday, January 2, 2022, the Medical Advisory Team (MAT) convened to review the updated isolation and quarantine guidelines from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). As a result of the meeting, the District is aligning its guidelines with the DPH and DESE guidelines.
I am asking faculty, staff, and families to review the guidelines carefully as there are significant changes. Furthermore, the MAT strongly encourages all faculty, staff, and students to participate in the weekly pooled COVID-19 PCR screening.
- District-wide pooled screening (PCR) will take place on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. Test kits will be distributed tomorrow, Tuesday, January 4, 2022.
- Pooled screening for the remainder of the year will be on Mondays. Test kits will be distributed on Fridays beginning January 7, 2022.
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If you have not completed the consent for testing yet, please complete the online consent form. This only needs to be done once.
- If you have tested positive, please wait ninety (90) days to participate in the pooled screening.
Lastly, if your child has tested positive for COVID-19 anytime since 12/21/21, please complete this COVID-19 student form.
Updated Isolation and Quarantine Guidelines (Sunday, January 2, 2022)
ISOLATION for COVID-19 POSITIVE INDIVIDUALS
Individuals who test positive must self-isolate for a minimum of five (5) days. Day zero (0) is the date of onset of symptoms or positive test result, whichever was first.
Individuals may return to school on day six (6) if:
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Asymptomatic or symptoms have significantly improved by day five (5); AND,
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Fever free for 24 hours (without taking fever-reducing medications); AND,
- Wear a mask at all times (except when eating, drinking) through day ten (10).
Guidelines if positive and symptoms have NOT significantly improved by day five (5):
- Isolate until symptoms have significantly improved.
- Return to school
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24 hours after symptoms have improved; AND,
- Wear a mask at all times (except when eating, drinking) through day ten (10).
Note: Testing prior to return is not recommended.
QUARANTINE for CLOSE CONTACTS
Fully vaccinated individuals are exempt from close contact testing and quarantine response protocols. If a fully vaccinated individual is identified as a close contact and develops symptoms, they should remain home, get tested, and contact the school nurse.
Unvaccinated/partially vaccinated students who are identified as in-school close contacts are eligible to participate in “Test and Stay.”
Duration of Test and Stay has been reduced to five (5) days from the date of exposure.
Return to School: Close contacts can remain in school and do not have to quarantine, as long as they:
- Are asymptomatic;
- Wear masks in school at all times, other than when eating or drinking;
- Take a rapid antigen test at the Test and Stay site on each school day and receive a negative result;
- Conduct active monitoring for symptoms through day ten (10), and immediately self-isolate at home if symptoms develop; and,
- Quarantine when outside of school/school activities for the duration of the Test and Stay.
Unvaccinated/partially vaccinated students who are identified as close contacts outside of school need to quarantine for a minimum of five (5) days.
Return to school: Close contacts can return to school on day six (6) as long as they:
- Are asymptomatic;
- Have a negative test on or after day five (5); and,
- Conduct active monitoring for symptoms through day ten (10), and immediately self-isolate at home if symptoms develop.
ATHLETICS - RETURNING TO PLAY
Student-athletes who test positive must self-isolate for a minimum of five (5) days in accordance with the revised DPH and DESE guidelines. The start date and end date of this isolation will be confirmed by either our school nurse or a public health nurse.
Following the five-day isolation period, student-athletes MUST submit a doctor’s note clearing them to return to athletic participation. The clearance note must state either of the following:
- The student-athlete is cleared for a full return to participation without restrictions.
- The student-athlete is cleared to begin a gradual return to play protocol.
STAYING HOME IF SYMPTOMATIC
Please err on the side of caution and stay home or keep your children home if symptomatic. Oftentimes people think, “It’s just a cold”, “I get a dry cough every winter” or “It’s just my allergies.” Please be vigilant and complete the Daily Self Screening Checklist. Please stay home, even if you have mild symptoms, and notify the school nurse.
Symptoms of COVID-19:
- Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills or shaking chills
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- New loss of taste or smell
- Muscle aches or body aches
- Cough (not due to other known causes, such as a chronic cough)
- Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms
- Headache when in combination with other symptoms
- Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
- Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms
All individuals presenting with any of these symptoms should stay home and contact the school nurse.
All staff and students presenting with these symptoms need to be tested. Antigen or PCR testing is acceptable. The antigen test must be a medically proctored test. (Testing Site Locations Link)
If a home test is done and is positive, please send in a date and time-stamped photo of the test results with your child’s name on it via email to the school nurse or covidresponse@nsboro.k12.ma.us.
Respectfully,
Gregory L. Martineau
Superintendent of Schools
