January 19, 2022 Update

 Dear North Reading Public Schools Community,

I’m writing today to provide a few updates related to COVID-19 and our schools.

COVID-19 Testing Updates

Yesterday, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) announced a new testing program that would allow districts to provide weekly at-home testing kits to those staff and students who opt into this program. Districts who participate would also continue symptomatic and/or pooled testing (we would plan to continue with both options) and would no longer contact trace or provide test and stay testing options (as the at-home tests would serve this purpose).

There are many reasons for these changes, including the recent uptick in cases across the state and the need for all nurses to focus on providing support to those who are positive and the availability of at-home tests for everyone who desires to participate. The district will certainly be exploring this option that would begin later this month. I will share more information on this process as it becomes available.

Mask Requirements

I have received a few messages this week from parents who are concerned about the extension of the DESE Mask Mandate that I communicated in my message last week that now continues through February 28, 2022. As I expressed to those concerned parents I do not believe that this mandate will continue indefinitely but I with the recent high number of positive cases I do understand why DESE needed to continue this extension.

I certainly recognize and appreciate the concerns that have been shared with our School Committee about mask wearing for our students and we do hope that it will be safe enough to allow mask wearing to be a choice when the data are reviewed in late February.

As a reminder, this mask requirement from DESE is not optional for districts to implement. There is currently the ability to apply for a waiver based upon a vaccination threshold of 80% for a school building. Currently none of our buildings meet that 80% threshold for staff and students.

In addition, I would also like to share the updates from the Centers for Disease Control that now includes recommendations for well-fitting masks, including KN95 and N95 masks. There are no longer supply shortages and there are reports that the federal government will be providing free distribution of these masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, specifically recognizing the recommended changes in light of the omicron variant.

From CDC:

“Masking is a critical public health tool to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and it is important to remember that any mask is better than no mask. To protect yourself and others from COVID-19, CDC continues to recommend that you wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you will wear consistently.”

COVID-19 Cases

For cases reported in the month of January, which includes those positive cases from December 23, 2021 through January 19, 2022, we have a total of 431 cases, including 361 students and 70 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,

​Dr. Daly