Community Update on Isolation, Quarantine and Contact Tracing
Posted on 01/01/2022
COVID 19 Self Test and Masks

Dear East Hartford Community,

 

Last night, the Connecticut State Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) updated their considerations regarding quarantine/isolation and contact tracing. Aligned to the new guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), these changes help school districts focus on the increased risk from individuals reporting for school-related activities with active symptoms of illness. EHPS will be adopting these considerations immediately.

 

As this could have immediate impact on family decisions regarding school attendance, we encourage you to read the full guidance carefully. Highlights are listed below:

• Individuals who are even mildly symptomatic with any of the symptoms associated with COVID19 should immediately isolate at home, test for the virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) with a PCR, antigen, or self-test, and remain away from activities outside of the home until they are fever-free for 24 hours and symptoms are significantly improved.

• Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate at home for at least 5 days, or longer if symptoms develop and persist. A mask should continue to be worn for an additional 5 days at all times when around others.

• Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals who are notified that they have had a close contact with an individual who has confirmed or suspected COVID-19 should immediately quarantine at home and test for the virus 5 days after their last exposure to the COVID-19 case. This is especially important in situations where extended high-intensity exposure may have occurred, such as with household contacts, in unmasked social settings (e.g., sleepovers, parties), and/or during athletic activities.

• Contact tracing of individual exposures that occur inside schools or during school-organized and supervised activities will be discontinued.

 

We appreciate your continued support as we keep our children, faculty and community safe.

 

Nathan Quesnel

Superintendent

East Hartford Public Schools