Message from MPS School Nursing Staff

To the MPS community,    

Happy New Year 2022!!!

Our schools will be open tomorrow, Monday, January 3, 2022 to welcome our students. 

If a student is not feeling well or exhibits COVID-19 symptoms prior to the start of school, they should stay home and seek further medical guidance, which may include COVID-19 testing.  It is essential to stay home if one is not feeling well. 

The Indoor Mask Mandate remains in effect for all individuals regardless of vaccination status. Masks are a highly effective means of mitigating spread and a minimally invasive means of helping us to maintain in person instruction.  

Over the last few days, the Centers for Disease Control and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health have published revised guidelines for addressing COVID+ cases and close contacts.  In light of these new recommendations, we are reaching out to share some information and reinforce previous recommendations as we prepare to resume classes tomorrow, Monday January 3, 2022.  The Massachusetts Department of Public Health revised protocols went into effect on December 30, 2021. These can be accessed by clicking this link:

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/isolation-and-quarantine-guidance-for-the-general-public

We will continue our In-School Testing Program within the capacity of medical staff.  You can only take part if you are signed up through the CIC website.  We encourage you to sign-up as soon as possible in case your student is identified as close contact. The link to sign up is below:

Digital Consent Form

We continue to strongly encourage those who are medically able to get the COVID vaccine. Additionally, we strongly encourage all who are eligible, ages 16 and older, to get a COVID vaccine booster. Early data indicates that vaccines and boosters are a highly effective means to prevent serious illness.

Lastly, we have received a large number of emails regarding students and staff that have tested positive over the break.   Please be patient as we process all of your messages as the guidelines changed in the middle of the break.  

If anyone tested positive on or before December 28, 2021,  students are clear to resume school on January 3, 2021 per the new DPH/DESE guidelines, as long as they have been fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication and have improvement in symptoms.  It is imperative that persons testing positive are diligent with wearing a mask at all times when  around others within the 10 day window.    

If you have any questions, please contact your school.

Sincerely,

MPS School Nursing Staff