January 10, 2022 Update

 Dear North Reading Public Schools Community,

Tomorrow looks to be very cold so please take all necessary precautions and continue bundling up and staying warm!

COVID-19 Updates

Earlier today the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) extended the mask mandate for schools through February 28, 2022. More information on this update can be found here: https://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/on-desktop/2022-0110mask-requirement-extension.pdf

DESE also released updated FAQs related to COVID-19 that have been attached to this message. The North Reading Public Schools continue to provide as much distance as feasible during snack and lunch in order to prevent transmission. We continue to offer thorough cleanings of all buildings and 

For cases reported in the month of January, which includes those positive cases from December 23, 2021 through January 5, 2022, we have a total of 315 cases, including 261 students and 54 staff positive cases.

Please review the dashboard for school-based updates and additional information.

Due to the high number of positive cases and the evolving guidance for isolation and quarantine our nurses are focusing their attention on providing support to the positive students and staff and those close contacts who need to quarantine or participate in test and stay (those who are fully vaccinated or who are at least three feet apart and masked do not need to quarantine or participate in test and stay).

All other individuals should follow the same recommendations as if they were close contacts. This means:

If you or your child is exhibiting ONE of the following symptoms that are consistent with COVID-19:

·       *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*

Or TWO or more of the following symptoms:

·       *Cough (not due not 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

Please see the school nurse, a medical professional, or consider taking a COVID-19 PCR or COVID-19 rapid antigen test.

Thank you, stay warm, and be well.

​Dr. Daly