Updated Guidance on COVID-19Dear OCSD Community, I hope you had a wonderful summer. As we welcome students and staff back to school, I wanted to share the latest information from the NYS Department of Health and the NYS Education Department regarding COVID-19. Please see the attached list of Frequently Asked Questions from the NYS Department of Health. To summarize: • Students and staff exposed to COVID-19 will not have to quarantine. People who were exposed to COVID-19 should follow CDC recommendations to wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days after the exposure and get tested. • “Test to stay” will end — students will no longer be required to receive a COVID test if exposed to an infected person. • Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days at home. Those with symptoms may resume attending school after 5 days if they are fever-free without fever reducing medicine for 24 hours, their symptoms are improving and they wear a mask through day 10. CDC guidance indicates that people can use the test-based strategy outlined in its isolation guidance to potentially shorten the duration of post-isolation mask use. Please read the FAQ on these points. • Universal masking is not required at this time. Local health departments have authority to implement masking requirements. • Schools will no longer be required to offer or conduct screening testing. • Schools are not required to test unvaccinated staff. • Schools are not required to report daily test results to DOH. • Schools will not be required to conduct contact tracing. This news is welcome and certainly a step towards a return to normalcy. We will update staff and parents with any changes. Should you have any questions, please reach out to your building principal or school nurse. Sincerely, Matthew Carpenter
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