Dear Parents and Staff,
Following a recent meeting with our local Board of Health agents, Administration and local Public Health Nurses, it was decided that the Tantasqua Regional & Union 61 School District will follow the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, (DESE) updates regarding the quarantining guidance of close contacts during the school day in consultation with Governor Baker’s medical advisory board. While the definition of a close contact continues to be if closer than 6 feet of distance for more than 15 minutes in a 24 hour period, the requirement to quarantine has changed because of the structured school environment.
- Close contacts who have been exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual in the classroom or on the bus while both individuals were masked do not have to quarantine unless they were within 3 feet of distance of the COVID-19 positive individual for a total of 15 minutes during a 24-hour period.
- Individuals who are fully vaccinated or who have had confirmed COVID-19 in the last 90 days do not need to quarantine or get tested as long as they do not have symptoms.
- Close contacts will quarantine for 10 days from the date of last exposure and are not required to get tested if they continue to be asymptomatic.
- They may return to school without documentation of a negative COVID test or a Dr. note if they remain asymptomatic and will continue to watch their health closely until 14 days from exposure to an individual who tested positive for COVID.
- COVID-19 test results from over-the counter rapid tests will not be accepted. We can only accept test results from reliable testing sites.
