Dear Ichabod Crane Families,
Effective today, January 7, we will adopt new isolation and quarantine protocols in partnership with our county health department. This change aligns with updated guidance from the New York State Health Department on January 4, which also aligns with updated recommendations from the CDC. These changes supersede previous guidance and protocols listed in our school opening plan published in September 2021. Moving forward, this means any new cases will follow the updated Isolation and Quarantine Guidance.
NOTE: Those placed in mandatory isolation and/or quarantine earlier this week will be contacted over the next two days by a health office or an administrator to discuss your child’s new release back to school date.
ISOLATION
If positive for COVID-19, isolate for 5 days, where day “0” is the day of symptom onset or (if asymptomatic) the day of collection of the first positive specimen.
- If asymptomatic at the end of 5 days, or if symptoms are resolving, isolation ends and the individual should wear a well-fitting mask while around others for an additional 5 days.
- Individuals who are moderately-severely immunocompromised should continue to follow standard (i.e., not shortened) Isolation Guidance.
- Individuals who are unable to wear a well-fitting mask for 5 days after a 5-day isolation should also follow standard (i.e., not shortened) Isolation Guidance.
QUARANTINE
If exposed to COVID-19, quarantine as follows, where day “0” is the last date of exposure:
- If not fully vaccinated: Quarantine for 5 days and wear a well-fitting mask while around others for an additional 5 days.
- If fully vaccinated: NO quarantine is required but these individuals should wear a well-fitting mask while around others for 10 days after the last date of exposure.
- If possible, test at day 5 with either a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT, e.g., PCR) or antigen test.
- If symptoms appear, quarantine and seek testing. In this situation, quarantine would end when the test is negative. If testing is not done, isolate according to the isolation guidance.
Children ages 12 to 15 are now eligible for the Pfizer booster shots. Please visit https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/ for more information or to find a vaccine and booster site near you. You may also visit the county health department website for any location options available.
As of today, we are also adopting new contact tracing guidelines for school provided transportation which should significantly reduce the number of students being quarantined due to exposure on the bus. We have found over the last 22 months that riding on the bus is not a significant factor in the spread of COVID-19. This is consistent with the DOH data obtained through contact tracing efforts. Only students who are in the same seat with a person who is positive for COVID-19 will now be placed into quarantine. Our website has been updated to reflect this change and includes new contact tracing diagrams on the bus.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate the changing guidance impacting our schools. We are hoping these changes will help significantly reduce the number and duration of students being required to be out of school in either isolation or quarantine. As always, we communicate any changes after they have been discussed with and approved by our local department of health. Thank you for your cooperation.
Suzanne Guntlow
Superintendent of Schools
Ichabod Crane Central School District
File attachments:
Isolation_Quarantine_Guidance.pdf