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Wayne County COVID Information
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Good afternoon Star Families,
As I shared with you in my last email, I am very happy to see our COVID Protocol trend moving toward loosening up. Unfortunately, we are finding that this loosening up is resulting in continued changes.
With Wayne County Health Department, along with Oakland and Macomb counties, changing their quarantine protocols for Close Contacts from in-school exposure, they added one additional layer of protection for Close Contacts staying in school. I have attached Wayne County Health Department’s current protocols, as communicated to parents last week, but with the additional requirement. Below some important highlights of their new protocols and change.
Close Contacts from exposure in-school (unvaccinated or not full vaccinated):- “Mask to Stay” – this does not apply to us since we are fully masked
- “Test to Stay” – This year Wayne County Health Department (and MDHHS) has allowed schools to test students at school who are Close Contacts every other day to allow them to stay at school instead of quarantining. Most schools have utilized this option as it is logistically and financially not feasible. Since they are now not requiring Close Contacts from in-school exposure to quarantine if they are symptom free, they have decided to require that these Close Contacts test on Day 5 after exposure to confirm they are negative. With a negative HOME RAPID TEST or PCR TEST on Day 5, students can continue to remain in school. This is the new requirement.
- If symptoms develop, begin to isolate and obtain a diagnostic test (this can not be a home rapid test – this is a test done by a doctor or healthcare provider – PCR test is most common one) This is important because if the student or staff was a Close Contact, the symptoms could very well be COVID-19 related.
Close Contacts from exposure outside of school (unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated):- The new protocols require an individual who is Close Contact to a COVID-19 individual outside of school quarantine for 5 days after exposure, then wear a mask during normal daily activities for days 6-10. When these new quarantine protocols were extended to students in K-12 schools, they asked that students who are Close Contacts and quarantining for 5 days obtain a negative COVID test (PCR or rapid home test) if feasible. Since unvaccinated/not fully vaccinated Close Contacts from in-school exposure must test on day 5 to stay, we are extending this to Close Contacts from outside of school test on Day 5 as well.
With Home Rapid Tests hard to find, we do recommend that all families pick up some tests when they can and have them at home in case you need one. I received a notice that the government is offering free home tests to all families and several of our families have already ordered some. I have attached the link here so each of our families can take advantage of this opportunity and have tests at your home. https://www.covidtests.gov/
We all share in the frustration of what seem to be ever changing COVID protocols. As a Wayne County school, we are required to follow their health protocols. Our goal is to try to break down and make the protocols and changes more understandable to all of us – this can be very hard. The big take-away from this email is the testing on Day 5 for all Close Contacts.
We will continue to work together with all our Star families to make this a great year, no matter the challenges and changes. We are so blessed to have our Star community – families, friends, teachers, staff, students – what a great place for us all!! Thank you all again for your great support and understanding!
God bless,
Mrs. Meghan Carter-Waid - Principal
