“Hope smiles for the threshold of the year to come whispering, “It will be happier.”
Alfred Tennyson
Dear Families:
The students and families of our school brought hope to many in our community with gifts of socks, gloves, gift cards and hygiene supplies from our Advent Homelessness Drive. The folks at the St. Martin de Porres shelter were overwhelmed seeing the mini-van, without seats, packed with the donations. Once again, our amazing St. Anne community came together to help those in need. Thank you!
As I know you are aware, the Omicron variant is sweeping through our city. We are doing what we can to keep on top of the latest Covid protocols. We really appreciate all of our families who are keeping students home with any symptoms. Please don’t hesitate to do so if you have any worries that you child might have symptoms. We are all better safe than sorry!
Last week, the Department of Health updated the Covid Guidance for K-12 Schools. It is now aligned with the CDC recommendations for quarantining with a close contact or isolation with a positive case of Covid. Here is the direct guidance from the Dept. of Health:
Isolation and Quarantine Guidance for K-12 Schools
Students, teachers, and staff who come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 need to quarantine for at least 5 days after their last close contact if they are in any one of the following groups:
- Ages 18 or older and completed the primary series of recommended vaccine, but have not received a recommended booster shot when eligible.
- They received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine (completing the primary series) over 2 months ago and have not received a recommended booster shot.
- They are not vaccinated or have not completed a primary vaccine series.
Students, teachers, and staff who come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 do not need to quarantine if they are in any one of the following groups:
- Ages 18 or older and have received all recommended vaccine doses, including boosters and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people.
- Ages 5-17 years and completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.
- Had confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days.
All people with COVID-19 (with or without symptoms) need to isolate for at least 5 days.
For students, teachers, and staff who test positive for COVID-19 and never develop symptoms:
- Isolate for at least 5 days. Day 0 is the day of the positive COVID-19 test and day 1 is the first full day after the specimen was collected for the positive test.
- If they continue to have no symptoms, they can end isolation after at least 5 days, but must continue to wear a mask for an additional 5 days. This applies to anyone with COVID-19, regardless of their vaccination status.
- If they develop symptoms after testing positive, the 5-day isolation period should start over. Day 0 is the first day of symptoms.
For students, teachers and staff who have COVID-19 and have or had symptoms:
- They can end isolation after 5 days if they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and other symptoms have improved.
- If the person meets these criteria, they can return to school after 5 days of isolation, but must continue to wear a mask for an additional 5 days. This applies to anyone with COVID-19, regardless of their vaccination status.
- If they continue to have a fever or other symptoms have not improved after 5 days of isolation, they should wait to end isolation until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and other symptoms have improved.
For additional information on the updated Quarantine and Isolation guidance, please visit the CDC FAQ.
Finally, just a reminder that we do not have school next Monday, January 17th in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Thanks,
Mary
