Covid Questions and Answers
with Nurse Loranna
Siblings
If one of my children is out sick does their sibling also need to stay at home?
No, they do not need to stay home unless they also have symptoms.
One of my children is covid positive, does their sibling need to stay home?
Yes, the sibling would be considered a close contact. Reach out to your school nurse and/or District Nurse Leader for more guidance about testing, quarantining and isolation.
My child was sick and now their sibling has it? Do they still need to get tested?
Yes, anytime anyone has symptoms they need to get a pcr test and stay home until negative test results are sent to the school nurse and symptoms are improving.
Seasonal Allergies
My child has seasonal allergies, do they still need to get a covid test?
This depends, the school nurse needs negative covid test results or a letter from their doctor that they have seasonal allergies, this does need to be documented. Please reach out to your school nurse for more guidance. Covid symptoms and seasonal allergies can be very similar. If they have a diagnosis of seasonal allergies and they get a negative PCR, they will not need to repeat testing unless symptoms change.
Testing
No, for any symptomatic testing it does need to be a pcr covid test, please email the results to your school nurse. The pcr test is considered the "gold standard" and is the most accurate and reliable test available.
If I sign my child up for BinaxNOW rapid test or strep test will I be called first?
Yes, you will always be called first before a test is administered. Rapid covid tests will need to be followed up with a pcr test. Rapid tests can help us isolate a positive case quickly which will help reduce spread, and a positive rapid test does not need to be repeated.
Close Contacts
I am a parent and was told I’m a close contact, what should I do?
You need to follow the directions of the local Board of Health. Your child can continue to go to school unless you become positive. You need to monitor for symptoms and follow any guidance from your local board of health.
If a caregiver is positive for covid-19 and cannot isolate from children- when does the child’s quarantine begin?
The child's quarantine would begin when the caregiver’s isolation ends.
My child is a close contact, what is the policy?
This depends on their exposure. If they are a close contact within the school community they will have the option of “test and stay”. If they are a close contact outside of the school community they will need to follow all guidance from the local board of health, as well as notify the school nurse and/or District Nurse Leader before their return to school. Please reach out if you have questions about this or have not been notified by your local board of health but think your child is a close contact.
Who determines close contacts in the school setting?
Both the District Nurse Leader/Covid Nurse and/or the local Board of Health would determine close contacts. If the exposure happens in the school, the District Nurse Leader will do the contact tracing, in collaboration with the school nurse. If the exposure happens within the community- the local Board of Health makes that determination. Often, they work together. If you have not been contacted by either the Nurse Leader, or local Board of Health- your child is not considered a close contact. Please reach out to the school nurse and/or District Nurse Leader for questions or concerns.
Pooled Testing
What is pooled testing, how does it work?
Pool testing is a way that we can screen for asymptomatic covid-19 cases in our school community as another layer of protection. Pool testing will be administered in school buildings. Under the surveillance pool testing protocol, MTRSD school nurses will administer the tests, which involve collecting anterior (shallow) nasal swab samples from a group (or “pool”) of 6-10 individuals. These samples will be combined and sent to Cambridge Innovations Center Health (CIC), a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) contractor, to conduct the lab analysis. The PCR test results will be available for review by the District Nurse Leader within 24-48 hours. This will be done weekly.
What happens if there is a positive result?
If a pooled sample generates a positive result, each individual in the pool will have a second anterior nasal swab to perform a BinaxNOW test at the school.
– If results from the second individual test are negative, the individual will continue to perform their regular duties without any limitations.
– If results from the second test are positive and the individual is a student, the student’s caregiver will be notified of the need for immediate pick-up.
– If results from the second test are positive and the individual is a member of our district staff, the employee will be notified immediately and asked to leave the school building.
**The District Nurse Leader/COVID-19 nurse and/or the local Board of Health will contact the caregiver/individual to review isolation requirements for the positive person per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), and DESE policies.**
Do I have to sign my child up for pooled testing?
No, this is an optional service unless your child is signed up for extracurricular activities or before/after care- then it is required.
Test and Stay
What is "test and stay"?
The Test and Stay program allows those who are identified as a “close contact” and exposed within the school community (students, staff, coaches, etc.) to test immediately for COVID-19 using the BinaxNOW antigen test. Testing is conducted by the school nurse upon their arrival at school each day for one week (7 consecutive days). BinaxNOW test results are available within 15 minutes. If the person deemed as a close contact remains asymptomatic and continues to test negative daily, they may continue performing and participating in regular school activities. This allows for a safe way to monitor close contacts and increase time in the classroom.
Reach out with any Questions
During school hours feel free to call the school with any questions, (413)628-4404 or send me an email. As we move forward amidst a pandemic, some policies may shift or change, I will always strive to get the information you need to you as quickly as possible.
I am honored and grateful to be your child's school nurse, I believe supporting each child in their own unique ways and working as a team with their caregivers to provide support is the path towards school success and a thriving student.
Warmly,
Nurse Loranna