May 27, 2022
Dear Rockland Public School Community,
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) released updated COVID guidelines on May 25, 2022. The full guidance can be found here: COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Guidance for Children in Child Care, K-12, Out-of-School Time (OST) and Recreational Camp/Program Settings | Mass.gov.
The significant changes are summarized below:
-
Regardless of whether exposure occurred inside or outside of school, unvaccinated students who are identified as close contacts may continue to attend programming as long as they remain asymptomatic. Those who can mask should do so until Day 10. A test on Days 2 and 5 is recommended, but not required. Please note that this is for students only, not staff. Unvaccinated close contact staff must quarantine.
-
Symptomatic students can remain in their school or program if they are tested immediately on site, and that test is negative. Best practice would also include wearing a mask, if possible until symptoms are fully resolved.
Staff and students who test positive must continue to isolate for at least 5 days. If they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and they have been fever-free for 24 hours, they may return to programming after Day 5, provided:
-
If able to mask, they must do so through Day 10
-
If the child is unable to mask, they must have a negative test on Day 5 or later in order to return to programming prior to day 11. A rapid antigen test, such as a self-test, is preferred to a PCR test in most situations for the purposes of exiting isolation or quarantine.
As of Thursday, May 26th, we have the following staff and students in quarantine due to positive test results:
Staff | Students | ||
Esten | 0 | 5 | |
Jefferson | 0 | 3 | |
MP | 0 | 2 | |
RMS | 0 | 3 | |
RHS | 2 | 3 | |
Preschool | 0 | 0 | |
Daycare | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 2 | 16 | 18 |
Sincerely,
Alan Cron, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools