Area school districts shorten COVID-19 quarantines
Some local school districts have shortened the quarantine time in certain cases for teachers and staff who are exposed to the coronavirus.
The change from a 14day quarantine to 10 days follows updated guidance from the state health department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Those exposed to COVID-19 can leave quarantine after 10 days if they do not have symptoms, continue to monitor their health until the 14th day and follow protocols like mask wearing, according to the state guidelines.
With a negative test taken on the fifth day, people with no symptoms may leave quarantine after seven days, the state says
The change is expected to help schools stay open because exposed employees will need to spend less time at home.
“It has been reported to us that school closure decisions have been most often related to staffing shortages, rather than in response to evidence of in-school transmission of COVID-19,” Miguel Cardona, the education commissioner, said in a letter to superintendents this month. “Therefore, a shorter quarantine period may increase the opportunity for our Connecticut students to engage in inperson learning.”
Bethel, Brookfield and Newtown plan to adopt the new guidance after consultation with local health departments.
“Quarantining individuals who are identified as direct contacts is one important measure in preventing the spread of infection after an exposure,” Superintendent Lorrie Rodrigue said in a letter to families. “While we realize that quarantining impacts family life, this strategy has proven to be effective in controlling contagious disease.”
Meanwhile, the Easton, Redding and Region 9 district opted to keep the 14-day quarantine
“Reducing from 14 to 10 requires a pretty involved testing and monitoring plan,” Superintendent Rydell Harrison said in message to the community. “After discussing this option with our local health departments and reviewing the CDC’s position that 14 day quarantines are optimal, we will maintain the 14 day quarantining period for now and revisit in the future.”
But Bethel will not allow staff and students to test out of quarantine early.
“This creates additional residual risk of positivity after leaving quarantine,” Superintendent Christine Carver said in a letter to families.
In a survey done by the state’s two largest teachers union and released this week, it was noted that many educators still say schools are not the safest place for children or them. Before the holiday break, about 40 percent of school districts were still offering in-person learning. Many are scheduled to resume in-person learning some time in January.