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Health Services » Covid 19 Guidance for School Year 2022-2023

Covid 19 Guidance for School Year 2022-2023

GLCPS will continue to follow the most current recommendations of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

GLCPS has discontinued its COVID-19 testing program in school. Masks will remain optional for staff and students. Students and staff who show signs of COVID-19 may still be sent home from school at the school nurse's discretion.

 

 

Covid 19 Guidelines for the 2022-2023 School Year
 
For symptomatic indviduals who test negative, the Department of Public Health (DPH) recommends a second test within 48 hours.
If the symptomatic individual cannot be tested immediately:
  • They should be sent home and allowed to return to their program or school if symptoms remain mild and they test negative, or
  • They have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and their symptoms are resolving, or
  • If a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis.
In any of the above cases, a negative test is strongly recommended for return.
Best Practice includes wearing a mask, if possible, until any symptoms are fully resolved.
 
Children and staff who test positive must isolate for at least five days.
  • If asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and they have bee fever free without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours, they may return to programming after Day 5 (five) and should wear a high-quality mask through Day 10.
  • If the individual is able to mask, they must do so through Day 10
  • If the child has a negative test on Day Five or later, they do not need to mask
  • if the individual is unable to mask, they may return to programing with a negative test on Day Five or later.
  • Quarantine is no longer required nor recommended for students or staff who have been exposed to someone positive with Covid-19, regardless of vaccination status or where the exposure occurred. All exposed individuals may continue to attend programming as long as they remain asymptomatic.
 

To read more about these guidelines, please click HERE.

 

GLCPS families should continue to monitor their children for symptoms of COVID-19. Some symptoms of COVID-19 can be the same as the flu or a bad cold. When in doubt, stay home and contact your primary care provider for further guidance. 

 

Your child should stay home if they have any of the symptoms listed below:  

  • Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills or shaking chills
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Muscle aches or body aches
  • Cough (not due to other known cause)
  • Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms
  • Headache, when in combination with other symptoms
  • Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
  • Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other causes, such as allergies) in combination with other symptoms

 

If your child is sick or exhibiting any of the above symptoms:

  • Contact the Main Office at 508-991-4105 or email [email protected] to report the student’s absence.
  • Keep your child home, have them seen by their primary care provider, and consider testing for COVID-19. 
  • Contact the school nurse at [email protected] to report if the student is COVID-19 positive to discuss next steps and protocols.
  • Share and inform the school nurse of any medical documentation the student received from their Doctor.