This week, the State of Ohio introduced a "Mask to Stay/Test to Play" option for students exposed to COVID-19 in school or during school-related activities. Essentially, this in-school quarantine is dependent on students exposed to a confirmed, positive case of COVID being asymptomatic and agreeing to wear a mask while in school (regardless of any previous exemption).
These changes incorporate mask wearing and testing to reduce the chance of spread of COVID-19 within structured school settings and provide a safe alternative to quarantine.
Families should note that this change in protocol affects only those students who would be subject to quarantine due to exposure while in school, and does not impact the district's current mask policy, which is still in effect.
MASK TO STAY
Direct contacts, regardless of vaccination or masking status, may remain in the classroom environment if they do the following:
- Wear a mask for 14 days after their last date of exposure.
- Self-monitor, or parent-monitor, for symptoms of COVID-19.
- Isolate and get tested if they start to experience symptoms associated with COVID-19 (regardless of level of severity).
- Consistent with guidance for others quarantining in lower-risk environments, students and staff may discontinue these quarantine procedures after seven days — if they don’t develop symptoms and test negative between days 5-7.
TEST TO PLAY
Asymptomatic contacts may continue to participate in extracurricular activities if they do the following:
Wear a mask when able. (This includes: transportation; locker rooms; sitting/standing on the sidelines; and anytime the mask will not interfere with breathing, the activity, or create a safety hazard.)
Test on initial notification of exposure to COVID-19.
Test again on days 5-7. If they are negative at this time, they will test out of quarantine.
Read more about the protocol.