Parents may choose quarantine for close contact students: 14 Days at Home; 10 Days at Home + 4 Days @ School Masked/Other Precautions, or 7 Days @ Home w/Neg Test + 7 Days @ School Masked/Other Precautions

New quarantine choices for parents/caregivers

Kate Martin

August 31, 2021

New quarantine choices for parents/caregivers

AUGUST 30 - PERRY COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 32

A new quarantine process has been approved by Perry County Health Department (PCHD) which can potentially shorten the length of time District 32 students are quarantined as close contacts to individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19. 

This is the procedure District 32 will follow until new guidance is provided by Perry County Health Department or Department of Health and Senior Services, per MSBA Policy EBB.

See List of Choices below for your choices as a parent/caregiver. 

All students/staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 must continue to isolate at home, per current PCHD recommendations.

Background

PCHD has implemented a 7-Day Test Out Option in which students and staff who are quarantined as close contacts may return to school on Day 8 if they have been asymptomatic during quarantine and are tested for COVID-19 on Day 5 or after with negative test results. These close contacts must continue to monitor for symptoms and wear a mask at school until Day 14. The test must be conducted by a testing center; it cannot be a home COVID test. Perry County Health Department must be provided with the negative test results.

Perry County Health Department Director Liz House assures us that this 7-Day Test Out option has a very low risk of transmission, comparable to that of a fully-vaccinated person. 

If you are currently quarantining as a close contact, this change could affect your return to school date. We will coordinate with the Perry County Health Department to adjust those dates as appropriate. 

If you have questions, please contact the Health Department at 573-547-6564. 

Choices for Parents/Caregivers 

This new PCHD procedure means that District 32 parents/caregivers have three choices when their child has been identified by PCHD as a Close Contact who must be excluded from school while quarantined.

PCHD provides District 32 with the start and end dates for quarantine. Your child is considered eligible to return to school when their Return To School date appears on the PCHD spreadsheet provided to the District 32 COVID-19 contact tracing liaison.

Your choices:

(Please note: Students who are close contacts may return to CLASS, not athletics/activities)

  1. You may choose to keep your student home for the duration of the quarantine, up to 14 days. Each day at home is an excused absence for your child. Your student is responsible for accessing daily assignments through Seesaw or Google Classroom. Your student’s return to school date will be provided to District 32 by PCHD.

  2. You may choose to keep your student home for 10 days, and allow them to attend school from Day 11-14 if they have been asymptomatic during quarantine, and they MUST remain masked at all times at school except when eating or drinking until after Day 14. These students must be separated from other students by at least 6 feet during mealtime when masks are removed. Each day at home is an excused absence for your child. Your student is responsible for accessing daily assignments through Seesaw or Google Classroom. Your student’s return to school date will be provided to District 32 by PCHD.

  3. You may choose the 7-Day Test Out Option in which students and staff who are quarantined as close contacts may return to school on/after Day 8 if they have been asymptomatic during quarantine and are tested for COVID-19 on Day 5 or after with negative test results. (Home tests are not accepted. Perry County Health Department must be provided with the negative test results.)

    1. In this case, you must monitor your student for symptoms and keep them home if they are sick. 

    2. From the time the student is allowed to return to school (per the PCHD spreadsheet), they MUST remain masked at all times at school except when eating or drinking until after Day 14. These students must be separated from other students by at least 6 feet during mealtime when masks are removed.

    3. Each day at home is an excused absence for your child. Your student is responsible for accessing daily assignments through Seesaw or Google Classroom. Your student’s return to school date will be provided to District 32 by PCHD.