New Quarantine Guidance
The Ohio Department of Health has announced updated alternative guidelines for quarantines in schools. The “Mask to Stay – Test to Play” guidelines are designed to help keep students in school and reduce long term quarantines out of school. These guidelines are optional, and parents may choose to follow standard quarantine rules*. These guidelines only apply to students who were exposed within the school setting. Those who were exposed outside of school, such as through a family member, should still follow standard quarantine practices.
MASK TO STAY
Those unmasked or unvaccinated and asymptomatic - who were exposed to Covid from INSIDE the school setting - are no longer required to follow standard quarantine rules* and may remain in school if the following criteria are met:
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Wear a mask to school for 14 days from the exposure.
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Parent(s) monitor child’s symptoms at home.
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Exposed person isolates if symptomatic.
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Masking may discontinue on day 8 if no symptoms are present and they receive a negative Covid test result after day 5 of exposure. This test must be a PCR or rapid antigen test. The test cannot be an over-the-counter test that is entirely self-administered.
* Standard quarantine rules: a student must quarantine at home for 10 days following last date of exposure.
Note: students who are vaccinated do not have to quarantine. It is recommended that they wear a mask for 14 days from the exposure.
TEST TO PLAY
Those who have been exposed to Covid and participating in school-sponsored extracurricular activities who are asymptomatic can continue to participate in school activities if they:
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Test as soon as they are notified following exposure; students may not participate until the first test result is received and is negative.
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Wear a mask when reasonable such as riding on team bus, in locker room, while sitting or standing on sidelines, etc. for 14 days from exposure.
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If tested again on day 5 or later, and the test is negative, they will test out of quarantine and can return immediately without a mask. This test must be a PCR or Rapid antigen test. The test cannot be an over-the-counter test that is entirely self-administered.
Please refer to our "COVID-19 Information" page for more details. If you have any questions about the new quarantine rules, please contact your child's building principal.
