COVID-19 Update from Dr. Campbell
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Dear Plymouth Families and Staff,
On April 20, 2021 schools were notified by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Department of Public Health that quarantine guidance for close contacts in the classroom and on the school bus was updated and in effective immediately:
"Close contacts who were exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual in the classroom or on the bus while both individuals were masked do not have to quarantine unless they were within 3 feet of distance of the COVID-19 positive individual for a total of 15 minutes during a 24-hour period. This does not apply if someone was identified as a close contact outside of the classroom or bus (e.g., in sports, extra-curriculars, lunch, etc.) or if masks are not worn by both persons at the time of the exposure."
The full guidance is posted on the COVID-19 guidance page.
Moving forward, should a positive COVID case be identified in a classroom or on the school bus, our schools will continue to notify families and staff in writing that they were a close contact based on the CDC definition; however, we will also clarify that the student or staff member does not have to quarantine as a result of the new April 20th guidance from the DPH/DESE - those students or staff actually deemed to be in "close contact" will be notified individually as has been the district practice.
Guidance on Return to Activity Post-COVID Diagnosis
Recently the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics made a recommendation that children and adolescents who have recovered from COVID-19 be evaluated by their primary care provider (PCP) prior to returning to any physical activity within the school setting.
The Plymouth Public Schools supports a healthy and safe return to school and all activities for our students after a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. To ensure this, we are asking that all district families of youth who have had a positive COVID test to comply with this above noted guidance and contact their PCP before returning their child to any physical activity, including even those youth who were asymptomatic with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. That being said, we are requesting that your child be evaluated for a full return to any physical activity in the school setting. If you have any questions relative to this guidance, please feel free to contact either our Director of School Health Services or your child’s school nurse - and in the case of school sports, the school’s Athletic Director.
I want to thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Christopher Campbell
Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Christopher S. Campbell
Superintendent of Schools
11 Lincoln Street | Plymouth, MA 02360
Phone: 508-830-4300 | Fax: 508-746-1873
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