January 5, 2022 Update

Dear North Reading Public Schools Community,

I'm writing today to provide some important updates on our COVID-19 cases and our schools.

Our first priority is keeping our students and staff safe and in person for school. Our educators and administrators have worked so hard to maintain class coverage this week even as our positive cases increase. Despite the rising numbers we have been able to remain open and if there is a need to close a school this will be made on a school-by-school basis if there are not enough staff members to open a building safely.

These next few weeks will be challenging but we are confident that we will be able to work together to meet these challenges as a school community.

Thank you to our school nurses who have been working with so many individuals each day and providing support, information, and answers to questions as each new scenario unfolds.

Data and Dashboard

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 186 cases, including 151 students and 35 staff positive cases.

Please review the dashboard for specific 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.

In the coming days we anticipate additional FAQs from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education who will be responding to the updates and guidance from the CDC. I will share that information as it becomes available.

Please stay safe and be well,

Dr. Daly