The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has updated their COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Guidance for the General Public, Early Childhood and Kindergarten through Grade 12. Below are guidelines that Gateways Academy will be following to start the new year.
The following are updated general guidelines for COVID-19:
If you were exposed to COVID-19, regardless of your vaccination status: CDC recommends that instead of quarantining, you wear a high-quality mask (N95 is the best or KN95 as a second option) for 10 days and get tested 5 full days after your last exposure (day 6).
If you have COVID-19: regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate from others for 5 days.
If after 5 days you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication and your symptoms are improving, or you never had symptoms, you should test on Day 6.
If the test is negative, you may end isolation but should continue masking around others and in public. If the test is positive, you should continue to isolate.
(Individuals with moderate illness or severe illness or with a weakened immune system, should isolate through day 10 and consult your doctor before ending isolation).
Gateways Academy Students and Staff
Effective September 7, 2022 the following guidelines will be followed by Gateways Academy for PreK-12 students and staff until further updates are given by the CDC or Shrewsbury Board of Health. The following are guidelines set per the CDC:
- Any student or staff that are symptomatic will be required to take a rapid antigen test, such as a self test.
- Contact tracing will no longer be required, however Gateways Academy will continue to work with the local Board of Health in the case of outbreaks.
- There are NO universal mask requirements, however any individual who wishes to continue to mask will be supported in that choice.
- For students or staff EXPOSED, quarantine is no longer required nor recommended, regardless of vaccination status or where exposure occurred. All exposed students/staff may continue to attend programming as long as they remain asymptomatic. Those who are able to mask for 10 days after exposure will be asked to do so and be asked to test on day 6 of exposure.
STUDENTS AND STAFF WHO TEST POSITIVE:
- Must isolate for at least 5 days
- To count days for isolation, Day 0 is the first day of symptoms OR the day the positive test was taken, whichever is earlier.
- If asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and fever free for 24 hours (without medicine) they may return after day 5 and should wear a mask through day 10.
**Any student or staff that is symptomatic during the school day will be sent home and be allowed to return if symptoms remain mild AND they test negative, have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication, or a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis.