"A kid sniffles on a school bus. A parent’s throat is sore. A teacher’s spouse feels sick.
As schools reopen in the fall, previously common and insignificant situations will carry new prospects of danger. To guide districts’ responses, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education this week released protocols for when students, staffers, or families experience symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 — a 19-page plan that makes clear how complicated and challenging the new school year will be.
“Even as we remain vigilant, and public health metrics in Massachusetts remain positive, the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in school will not be zero,” the guidance reads. “No single strategy can ever be perfect, but all strategies together will reduce risk.”
The guidance includes detailed instructions for various scenarios, which all stress the importance of assessing symptoms, isolating the sick, disinfecting spaces, testing, and staying home while awaiting test results and notifying the school. It says schools should promptly notify the families of any “close contacts” — anyone who came within 6 feet of the infected person in recent days for more than 10 minutes — so that family member can self-isolate and get tested too.
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/07/21/metro/what-happens-when-student-or-staffer-gets-sick-school-this-fall/
Link to DESE guidance doc:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mo6FG3G2KJIAJ9Arct4uWHP4s0TEMCiK/view?usp=sharing
Or view the doc here
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| DESE: "What happens when a student or staffer gets sick at school this fall?" |
