10/19/21
Dear Parent/Guardian:
Today, Tuesday, October 19, we learned that a member of the 2nd Grade Class tested positive for COVID-19. Due to the fact that all 2nd graders were in shared spaces yesterday for an extended period of time, regardless of social distance, all 2nd grade students are considered close contacts by the Vermont Department of Health (DOH).
Our school is being asked by the DOH to conduct contact tracing. We are also required by the DOH to provide them with the contact information for every 2nd grade family for the purpose of DOH contact tracing. Your student is required to follow a stay-at-home quarantine according to the DOH’s quarantine guidelines as specified in the chart below.
We are encouraging families to follow the DOH recommendation for getting tested as soon as Day 2 (Oct. 20), because the sooner we know your student’s results, the safer we can keep our community in limiting any potential spread at the earliest possible date. If your student is signed up for COVID-19 Surveillance Testing, you can bring your student to School Street tomorrow, Oct. 20, between 9:30-11 a.m. (A parent/guardian should ring the doorbell and someone will come out to do the testing at your car.) The other option is to go to the COVID-19 Resource Center at 982 Mansion Dr. COVID-19 testing information is available on the Southwestern Vermont Health Care website at this link: https://svhealthcare.org/COVID-19/Testing/tag/covid-19.
Getting tested on or after Day 7 (Oct. 25) and providing the school with confirmation of a negative test result or quarantining for the full 14-day period is required before your student can return to the Village School. Instruction will be provided to the 2nd grade remotely at least through Oct. 25, at which point we will be able to update you on when 2nd graders can return to school for in-person instruction.
COVID-19 testing information is available on the Southwestern Vermont Health Care website at this link: https://svhealthcare.org/COVID-19/Testing/tag/covid-19.
Vermont Department of Health Guidelines & Requirements
- Day 0 of the quarantine period is the day your child was last in contact with the person. (See table below for important dates.)
- The Health Department recommends getting tested as soon as day 2 and again at day 7. The test should be for a current infection (like a PCR test), except it should not be an antigen test (also known as a rapid test). If the test at day 2 is negative, continue to quarantine. If the test at day 7 is negative and your child still does not have any symptoms, they can end quarantine. If either test is positive, follow isolation guidance at healthvermont.gov/covid19positive.
- Watch for symptoms, even if mild, of cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, fatigue, muscle pain or body aches, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Your child should not leave home, except to get medical care.
- Call ahead before visiting a health care provider or emergency department with your child.
- While at home, your child should stay apart from other people in the household, especially anyone who is at increased risk of getting very sick, like people who are older or have health conditions. Other household members do not need to quarantine unless they develop symptoms. As much as possible, your child should:
- Stay in a specific room in your home and use a separate bathroom.
- Stay at least six feet or two meters away from others in your home.
- Wear a face mask if they are in any room with other people, unless they have trouble breathing.
- Avoid sharing household items.
- Stay connected with others – you and your child can use technology to communicate with friends and family.
|
Number of Days After Possible Exposure |
What Happens? |
|
Day 0: Oct. 18 |
This is the day your child was last in contact with the person with COVID-19 at school. |
|
Day 7: Oct. 25 |
You have the option of getting your child tested on or after day 7 of their quarantine period, if they have not had any symptoms. The test should be for a current infection (like a PCR test), except it should not be an antigen test (also known as a rapid test). Your child needs to remain in quarantine until you get the test results. If the results are negative and your child still does not have any symptoms, they may return to school and end quarantine. Continue monitoring them for symptoms for the remainder of the 14 day period. Learn more about getting tested in Vermont at www.healthvermont.gov/covid19testing. |
|
Day 14: Nov. 1st |
This is the last day of quarantine (if your child was not tested on or after day 7, as described above). If your child still doesn’t have symptoms, they may return to school the next day. |
It is important that you send an email to tnewbold@vsnb.org and info@vsnb.org with any and all of your student’s COVID-19 test results.
Click here for additional information from the DOH regarding quarantine and preventative measures. If your child has recovered from COVID-19 within the past 3 months and does not have any new symptoms, they do not need to quarantine or get tested. If they develop symptoms, keep your child at home away from others and contact their health care provider for guidance.
We know this news is unsettling, and we understand the hardship on students and families. Thank you for your patience and support as we move forward. We are working to respect individual privacy and gather all the facts of the situation. I am available at tnewbold@vsnb.org if you have any questions. Your family’s health and wellbeing is foremost in our thoughts.
Sincerely,
Tim Newbold
