McCabe releases updated COVID-19 guidelines for ‘Back to School’

This afternoon, Akron Central School Superintendent of Schools, Patrick McCabe released information and links to information relative to the New York Department of Health and New York State Education Department updated the COVID-19 Guidance for Schools based on the CDC’s most recent operational guidance for schools, as released August 22.

The purpose of this correspondence is to highlight key aspects of the guidance and to provide links that contain more detailed information.

 Masking:

• Universal masking is not required at this time. Local health departments continue to have the authority to implement masking during periods of high transmission.

• Individuals may continue wearing masks if they choose to doso.

Quarantine:

• Students and staff exposed to COVID-19 will not have to quarantine.

• The guidance recommends that people who were exposed to COVID-19 wear a well fitting mask for 10 days after exposure and get tested.

When Testing Positive for COVID-19:

• Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days at home and

wear a well-fitting mask on days 6-10.

• The guidance recommends that those with a symptomatic case of COVID-19 may resume attending school after 5 days if they are fever-free without fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours, their symptoms are improving, and they wear a mask through days 6-10.

• Schools will not conduct contact tracing.

When Experiencing Symptoms of COVID-19:

• As with all forms of illness, students and staff should not report to school or work when they are ill. They are encouraged to seek a COVID-19 test and/or consult with their primary physician.

• The school can provide at home COVID-19 tests upon request.

School Based Testing:

• Test to stay after exposure to COVID-19 is no longer necessary.

• Schools will no longer be required to offer or conduct screening testing.

• Schools are not required to test unvaccinated staff.

 For more detailed information from NYSDOH & NYSED, please refer to the links below:

 School Year 2022-23 Frequently Asked Questions for Schools

School Year 2022-23 Frequently Asked Questions for Parents and Caregivers

“We are tremendously pleased to be able to return to a school structure with far fewer COVID19 related restrictions. From an operational and instructional perspective, this guidance affords us a fair opportunity to meet the primary objective of providing students with a full and robust educational program in an atmosphere that is inviting, supportive, and rewarding. We are very excited to welcome students back to school on Tuesday, September 6, 2022,”  McCabe writes.