Nursing Notes
The best protection is prevention
Covid Cases on the Rise
Cashman Elementary: 3
Amesbury Elementary: 2
Amesbury Middle School: 7
Amesbury High School: 1
Amesbury Innovation High School: 0
Through contact tracing, most of these cases were determined to be connected to social gatherings outside of school. As we move forward into the winter and begin to spend more time indoors, open communication and prompt notification of illness continue to be an effective tool in preventing the transmission of COVID-19 inside the school.
Currently, the test and stay program is happening at 4 of our 5 schools due to increased covid exposure
Please be sure to sign this consent form for optional in school testing: https://www.cic-health.com/consent/ma
What Can I Do to Protect Myself?
- Communicate with the school if you are a close contact of someone who is positive
- Keep your child home until they receive a negative test result
- Wear a mask
- Get vaccinated
- STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK
Kids 5-11 years old now eligible for Pfizer COVID Vaccine!!!!
- Stay tuned for local vaccine clinics
If I am a close contact from someone outside of school:
Students who have had an exposure that is NOT in the classroom (on the weekend, at home, non school based sports etc):
Option 1: 7 DAYS of strict quarantine with release on day 8 IF:
-A test (either PCR or BiNax Now antigen) taken on Day 5 or later is negative; AND
-The individual has not experienced any symptoms up to that point; AND
-The individual conducts active monitoring through Day 14.
Option 2: 10 DAYS of strict quarantine release on Day 11 IF:
-The individual has not experienced any symptoms up to that point; AND
-The individual conducts active monitoring through Day 14.
-No test is necessary under this option.
If an individual develops any symptoms, they must adhere to the full 14 day quarantine even if they have tested negative
When Can I Come Back to School?
If there is a confirmed COVID case at home:
-without Covid testing or vaccine: May return to school on day 11 after a 10 day quarantine at home
-if fully vaccinated: If you are fully vaccinated and have no symptoms, no quarantine is necessary
-with Covid testing: may obtain PCR or rapid antigen test on day 5 or later. If negative, continue to quarantine through day 7 and may return to school on day 8.
If there is a confirmed COVID case in my class and I am a close contact: May participate in a daily test and stay for 7 days as long as there are no symptoms. If vaccinated, there is no restriction. If you choose not to participate in the test and stay, you must follow the exposure protocol in the first paragraph.
If I am COVID positive: You must quarantine for ten days and return to school on day 11 (the day of positive test or day of symptom onset is considered day ZERO. The ten days of quarantine start the following day, which is considered day 1).
If I am sick with the symptoms listed below: Do not come to school (even with a vaccine). Get a PCR Covid test OR see a doctor and bring in a note with an alternative diagnosis for your symptoms (like strep throat or the flu). Also, you must be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
Symptoms that require a Covid test include:
• Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• New loss of taste or smell
• Muscle aches or body aches
• Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
• Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms
• Headache when in combination with other symptoms
• Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
• Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms
*Student must have a documented history of allergies by a medical provider when differentiating between allergy and Covid-19 symptoms.
Questions? Call Your School Nurse
Kristin Tierney, FNP Amesbury Innovation High School (978) 388- 8037
kristin.tierney@amesburyma.org
Elisabeth Shorter, RN Amesbury High School (978) 388- 4800
elisabeth.shorter@amesburyma.org
Nicole Brown, RN Amesbury Middle School (978) 388- 0515
Carol Greene, RN Cashman Elementary School (978) 388-4407
Nicole Quadros, RN Amesbury Elementary School (978) 388- 3659