New CDC Guidance on Isolation & Quarantine - UPDATED 12/26/2021
The Centers for Disease Control has today downgraded their recommendations with regards to isolation and quarantine when someone tests positive for COVID-19 or is exposed to someone who has tested positive. These remain recommendations and for us at Saint John's we leave it to parents to make best decisions for their children.
However, because of Minnesota Department of Human Services mandate (from September 28, 2021), these will be the newly adopted timelines we will require for our two preschool programs (preschool & k-readiness) when a student tests positive or is exposed. For all other classrooms (K-6), these remain recommendations for parents to take into consideration.
A. If You Test Positive for COVID-19 (Isolate):
(Everyone, regardless of vaccination status)
Stay home for 5 days.
If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave your house.
Continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
If you have a fever, continue to stay home until your fever resolves.
B. If You Were Exposed to Someone with COVID-19 (Quarantine):
If you: Have been boosted OR Completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months OR Completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months
Wear a mask around others for 10 days.
Test on day 5, if possible.
If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home.
If you: Completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and are not boosted OR Completed the primary series of J&J over 2 months ago and are not boosted OR Are unvaccinated
Stay home for 5 days. After that continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
If you can’t quarantine you must wear a mask for 10 days.
Test on day 5 if possible.
If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home
VACCINE FOR CHILDREN – UPDATED 10/31/2021
As with all vaccines, Catholic schools of the Archdiocese recognize that vaccination of school-age children is a decision of parents and guardians and is not mandated by Catholic schools. Parents and guardians make health care decisions for their children. An explanation of the Church’s position can be found here. As with all healthcare decisions, parents and guardians of students in our Catholic schools should carefully weigh the risks and benefits in consultation with their healthcare provider.
We encourage you to meet with your child’s primary care provider in an effort to make an informed decision in light of your child’s particular health history, risks, and benefits associated with the COVID- 19 vaccine. While Catholic schools have not been a significant source of transmission of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, our school remains vigilant and focused on ensuring our students receive the essential service of an in-person education and a place of encounter with Jesus Christ.
BE VIGILANT
I need to implore everyone to be vigilant and take seriously the importance of keeping kids home when they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms (one more common or two less common). Keeping people who are exhibiting common symptoms out of the classroom is a critical component of our Pandemic Preparedness & Readiness Plan. Along with regular hand washing, classroom sanitization, and hospital-grade air filtration, keeping kids home who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms helps to keep our kids and staff healthy.
TESTING – UPDATED 10/17/2021
I’ve been notified by MDH that we will not be receiving any more tests. This was a one-time serve they provided us. I will alert you if they offer this again in the future. If you got a testing kit from us that came in a plastic Ziploc bag with a small bottle of solution, we can reuse the remainder of that solution (or provide you with more testing supplies) if you return it to us.
COMMUNICATION
If you do plan on keeping your child home because of symptoms, or if they have tested positive for COVID-19, please call 1-855-SJS-SICK (855-757-7425) and leave a voicemail message so that all the relevant people are notified immediately (the voicemail is automatically distributed to those who need to know.)
More Common Symptoms (one or more please have your child stay home):
Fever or chills
A new or worsening cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
New loss of taste or smell
Less Common Symptoms (two or more please have your child stay home):
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
