Important Updates Regarding COVID Guidelines & Procedures

Emailed: February 4, 2022

The District of Columbia Department of Health has updated their guidance for schools, and we have also updated our own policies and procedures to reflect these changes and to address some questions we have received from families. There is a lot of information here, please allow yourself the time to read and digest this information and let me know if you have any questions.

There are (5) key points and you read more about each below:

1. Modified quarantine “day” counting system for close contacts and those who have tested positive
2. New definition to replace the term “fully vaccinated”
3. Implementation of Test-to-Stay (TTS) for unvaccinated members of the community
4. New guidance for household members of a COVID-positive individual
5. New isolation guidelines for those diagnosed with COVID-19

1. Modified Quarantine Day Counting

Going forward, for quarantine calculation purposes for close contacts, the date of exposure is considered Day 0, and the first full day after the date of exposure is Day 1. 

If someone has symptomatic COVID, the date that symptoms started is considered Day 0, and the day afterwards is Day 1. 

If someone has asymptomatic COVID, the date that an individual gets COVID tested is Day 0, the following day is considered Day 1.

2. New Definition to Replace the Term  “Fully Vaccinated”

 The phrase “fully vaccinated” is now obsolete. Replacing it is the phrase, “up-to-date,” as follows:

Who is considered “up-to-date” on their COVID-19 vaccine?

• Persons 12 years of age and older who have received two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine within the past 5 months, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine within the past 2 months.
• Persons 12 years of age and older who have received one booster dose after 5 months have passed since their initial two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or those who have received one booster dose after 2 months have passed since their initial one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
• Children between the ages of 5-11 years old who have received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and 14 days have passed.

3. Test-to-Stay Policy, Qualifications & Procedures

Aidan will be implementing a Test-to-Stay (TTS) policy. This only applies to unvaccinated and partially-vaccinated individuals, as fully vaccinated students are not required to quarantine after exposure, unless symptomatic. This approach increases the amount of time students have in school. We, along with the DC Department of Health, are prioritizing in-person learning over extracurricular activities.

Children who qualify for Test-to-Stay...

• MUST
  • Come to school and go home at their class’ dismissal times (No ASP or any additional extracurricular activities or playdates)
  • Test immediately after finding out they were exposed, and again before 7:30 AM on days 3, 5, and 7 after exposure;
  • Stay distant from other community members during times when their mask must be removed;
  • Stay home and isolate if they become symptomatic or test positive for COVID-19.

Does your child qualify for Test-to-Stay? 

• YES (all of these must be true)
  • My child is unvaccinated or partially vaccinated against COVID-19.
  • The close contact happened at Aidan during school, ASP, or Discovery.
  • My child was in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 when both of their masks were being worn properly.
• NO (if any of these apply)
  • My child is “up-to-date” on their COVID-19 vaccine and may continue to be in school without quarantining.
  • The close contact happened in the household or an activity outside of Aidan.
  • My child was in close contact with someone when one or both of their masks were off. (e.g. naptime, lunch, snack, Toddler classroom, etc.)
  • My child is experiencing COVID-like symptoms after being in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
  • My child tested positive for COVID-19.
  • My child is in a toddler classroom.
  • My child's quarantine requirements are due to recent travel.

If your child qualifies for Test-to-Stay based on the list above (YES), please follow the steps below. 

1. Test your child immediately (within 24 hours after exposure), and then again in the mornings of day 3, 5, & 7 after exposure.
2. If using a home rapid test, mark your test with the date and students initials.
3. Take a picture of the test, with the markings, after waiting the full 15 minutes for it to result.
4. Send the picture to Nurse Lexi via email before 7:30 AM.

Test Results:

If the test is negative, your child is eligible to attend school. After day 7 of receiving negative test results, the child is able to resume normal extracurricular activities and ASP on day 8.

If the test is positive, your child is not eligible to attend school. Please fill out this form as soon as possible, and alert Nurse Lexi.

If someone who is participating in the TTS program tests positive for one of their morning tests, the days for close contacts to be tested will start again. For example, if one child participating in TTS test positive on their day 5 morning test, the close contacts of that child will begin again with the ‘immediate’ test, then day 3, 5, & 7. This could happen multiple times if more children become positive during their morning tests. This might also lead to students not being eligible for TTS and having to stay home to quarantine due to their close contact being mask-less or outside of school activities.

If the results come back positive, and the person is asymptomatic, the isolation period clock restarts and they will have to quarantine for an additional 7-10 days. If the person becomes symptomatic, the isolation period clock restarts and they will need to be retested and quarantined for an additional amount of time.

See more information about isolation periods below in section #5

What Type of Test To Use:

For “Test-to-Stay” at home rapid tests are accepted and preferred, but PCR tests are also accepted. The PCR testing we do at the school on Tuesdays does not count for the Test-to-Stay morning tests.

• Links to find tests: Test Yourself DC, Free Government Tests, Amazon iHealth Home Tests, Amazon OnGo Home Tests, DC Testing Sites

If you are unable to obtain enough home tests, the school has a small supply of test kits that can be used by our students who meet the criteria for TTS.

Unvaccinated or partially-vaccinated individuals who do not qualify for the Test-to-Stay and are considered a close contact of someone who tests positive for COVID-19:

• MUST
  • Quarantine for at least 7 days after the last day of exposure.
  • Test on day 5-7 after the last day of exposure.
  • Stay home if they become symptomatic or test positive for COVID-19.
  • Quarantine for a full 10 days if no test is done, but they remain asymptomatic.
• MUST NOT
  • Return to school before Day 8 after the last day of exposure.
  • Return to school if they become symptomatic during their quarantine period.
  • Return to school if the test results from day 5-7 after exposure come back positive.

Individuals who are “up-to-date” on their COVID-19 vaccines and are considered a close contact of someone who tests positive for COVID-19 also do not qualify for Test-to-Stay:

• MUST
  • Test on day 5-7 after exposure.
  • Monitor symptoms for 10 days after the exposure (Day 0-10), and isolate if they begin to have any symptoms.
  • Wear a mask while around other people at all times for 10 days after exposure (Day 0-10).
  • Begin isolation if they become symptomatic or test positive. 

Note: People who are up-to-date on their COVID vaccine or have had COVID-19 within the last 90 days do not need to quarantine after exposure, as long as they remain asymptomatic.