APS required testing of athletes regardless of vaccination status

[Anonymous]

Isn’t the testing we see in private schools one of the things that makes their environment safer? I’m confused how this is a bad thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t the testing we see in private schools one of the things that makes their environment safer? I’m confused how this is a bad thing.

There’s a group of people who reflexively get angry at any APS announcement

[Anonymous]

It seems like a waste of money to test just athletes. Sure they need testing, but test the general population not just athletes. Test randomly at every level.

Most sports are at the HS level. In general, most athletes have been vaccinated because they don’t want a positive test to ruin their season.

My kid was tested daily in the spring even though they were vaccinated, along with 80%% of the team. The entire team opted into testing to play maskless. It was fine just inconvenient.

[Anonymous]

Not a problem for us. Small price to pay for getting to do fall sports in the fall and not having to run cross country wearing a mask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a problem for us. Small price to pay for getting to do fall sports in the fall and not having to run cross country wearing a mask.

Right. I’m like, so what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I now know of five people personally who have had breakthrough COVID, despite being vaxxed.

One of them is a teacher.

Were any of the actually sick?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As long as the rapid testing doesn't result in false positives.

Testing rarely results in false positives. False negatives if you test too early, yes. Not false positives.

I think this is great. Ideally they'll implement random testing at all levels, or even the cohort testing (is that what it's called) where they bulk test samples from a number of people.

Vaccines, masks, testing, distancing. And people keeping their kids home if there's covid symptoms. No, don't presume allergies, or a stomach ache or whatever. Miss a day and get a test. If we want our kids in school we need to do everything we can and not just shout that covid is no big deal for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I now know of five people personally who have had breakthrough COVID, despite being vaxxed.

One of them is a teacher.

Were any of the actually sick?

DP who also knows multiple people who are breakthrough. None are sick enough to need a hospital, so the vaccine is working. Many have what feel like a bad cold, and therefore can transmit the virus. We're again trying to do both by vaccinated and masking, protect ourselves and reduce transmission.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, but this is absurd and vaccinated kids should be exempt. False positives are about 1-2% so while that seems low it will mean that there are kids who miss two weeks of school for a false positive. At the very least, there needs to be a clear policy for retesting to get a kid out of quarantine. Let's remember, these kids have all had an opportunity to be vaccinated, and these are outside practices. Yes, there are break through cases but it is still rare for a vaccinated person to get COVID and outdoor transmission is very, very, very low. It is absolutely absurd they would test these kids. Save them for elementary school if we must.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I now know of five people personally who have had breakthrough COVID, despite being vaxxed.

One of them is a teacher.

Were any of the actually sick?

DP who also knows multiple people who are breakthrough. None are sick enough to need a hospital, so the vaccine is working. Many have what feel like a bad cold, and therefore can transmit the virus. We're again trying to do both by vaccinated and masking, protect ourselves and reduce transmission.

Wow - a cold! I hope they're alright. #staysafe

With the new mask guidance, I'm not wearing a mask and neither is my child under 12. It was based on (a) an Indian study rejected for peer review and (b) a study during bear week at Provincetown (if you don't know what a "bear" is, I high suggest you give it a Google). Vaccines work and my unvaccinated under 12 is at less COVID risk than I am vaccinated. Riding in a car is more dangerous to me or them. 18 months in, it's time to live life. Some people, especially in Arlington (like a certain stationery saleswoman), really don't want this to end.

As for testing athletes, what a waste of resources for such a low-odds thing. Check out VDH data on breakthrough infections and how rare they are. Of those, I wonder their age and comorbidities. It'd be great if we had a health agency that provided more transparency on the most relevant factors for COVID.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry, but this is absurd and vaccinated kids should be exempt. False positives are about 1-2% so while that seems low it will mean that there are kids who miss two weeks of school for a false positive. At the very least, there needs to be a clear policy for retesting to get a kid out of quarantine. Let's remember, these kids have all had an opportunity to be vaccinated, and these are outside practices. Yes, there are break through cases but it is still rare for a vaccinated person to get COVID and outdoor transmission is very, very, very low. It is absolutely absurd they would test these kids. Save them for elementary school if we must.

The athletes only have to sit out as long as they test positive. If a kid is testing positive day after day, it’s not false. If they do have a false positive, they’re out one day. Nbd.

[Anonymous]

Genuinely curious why folks are compelled to trust our public health officials when said officials base the new mask guidance on a gay party weekend in Rhode Island and an Indian study that was rejected for peer review?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry, but this is absurd and vaccinated kids should be exempt. False positives are about 1-2% so while that seems low it will mean that there are kids who miss two weeks of school for a false positive. At the very least, there needs to be a clear policy for retesting to get a kid out of quarantine. Let's remember, these kids have all had an opportunity to be vaccinated, and these are outside practices. Yes, there are break through cases but it is still rare for a vaccinated person to get COVID and outdoor transmission is very, very, very low. It is absolutely absurd they would test these kids. Save them for elementary school if we must.

The athletes only have to sit out as long as they test positive. If a kid is testing positive day after day, it’s not false. If they do have a false positive, they’re out one day. Nbd.

There is no way a kid that tests positive only sits out one day. They will have to miss sports and school for two weeks, which of course they should if they are actually positive. BUT a 1-2% false positive rate is going to cause unnecessary disruption if there is not a clear policy on allowing kids to demonstrate with another test that they are in fact negative. I am fine with this testing protocol for unvaccinated kids, but JFC this is absurd for vaccinated athletes practicing OUTSIDE!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Genuinely curious why folks are compelled to trust our public health officials when said officials base the new mask guidance on a gay party weekend in Rhode Island and an Indian study that was rejected for peer review?

“Genuinely” curious what gay has to do with anything, aside from revealing your world view.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry, but this is absurd and vaccinated kids should be exempt. False positives are about 1-2% so while that seems low it will mean that there are kids who miss two weeks of school for a false positive. At the very least, there needs to be a clear policy for retesting to get a kid out of quarantine. Let's remember, these kids have all had an opportunity to be vaccinated, and these are outside practices. Yes, there are break through cases but it is still rare for a vaccinated person to get COVID and outdoor transmission is very, very, very low. It is absolutely absurd they would test these kids. Save them for elementary school if we must.

The athletes only have to sit out as long as they test positive. If a kid is testing positive day after day, it’s not false. If they do have a false positive, they’re out one day. Nbd.

There is no way a kid that tests positive only sits out one day. They will have to miss sports and school for two weeks, which of course they should if they are actually positive. BUT a 1-2% false positive rate is going to cause unnecessary disruption if there is not a clear policy on allowing kids to demonstrate with another test that they are in fact negative. I am fine with this testing protocol for unvaccinated kids, but JFC this is absurd for vaccinated athletes practicing OUTSIDE!!!!

“With the spread of the Delta variant, new data shows some vaccinated individuals carry significant viral loads for a short duration which can compromise those who are unvaccinated and/or immunocompromised. Our goal is to use surveillance testing to minimize the spread of COVID on our teams and in our community while also eliminating the need for individual or team close contact quarantining. Under the plan, only those infected with COVID will quarantine for the period they are infectious as determined by ongoing daily testing.”