MCPS will now send kids home for ten days based on symptoms only

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 3rd grade kid in a class that was sent home. A classmate complained of a headache and got sent home. The whole class was instructed to isolate. The kid with a headache got a negative covid test so the class is allowed to return on Wednesday (Tuesday is a no school day). I think it’s too much. Kids shouldn’t be forced to isolate for symptoms only.

Without regular testing, that's the only way to do it.

FFS. No it is NOT. Send the sick kid home only. There is no reason to send hundreds of healthy kids home. None. Look at how every other school district in the world is handling this.

Yes but MoCo is so so much smarter than everyone else:

I know and I'm so glad I live in a place that is run by responsible people safe guarding our children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who says this isn't following CDC guidelines can't read, chooses not to read, or doesn't understand what they are reading.
Close contact is with anyone positive for Covid (confirmed test result) OR clinically compatible (aka having a Covid SYMPTOM).
The CDC exemption for the classroom ONLY exempts students if they are 3, 4, 5, 6 feet apart AND wearing a mask. If students are 1 foot or 2 feet apart, that is close contact even if wearing a mask. Lunch and recess is still 6 feet. It's so annoying that the loudest voices are the ones who don't understand the rules.
That said, DHHS needs to implement rapid tests for school nurses and techs to give so right away a school can know if a student with
symptoms is positive. DHHS needs to lead this work as the health experts. MCPS doesn't make health decisions, they make educational ones.

CDC say in K-12 school guidance that close contacts are those in close contact with someone who has a positive COVID test--not someone with a COVID symptom. "This allows identifying which students, teachers, and staff with positive COVID-19 test results should isolate, and which close contacts should quarantine." https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html#contact-tracing (see section 8, Contact Tracing in Combination with Isolation and Quarantine)

Except they also recommend regular testing and MCPS isn't doing that.

As schools go back to in-person learning, many offer free, regular COVID-19 testing for students and staff.
Regular testing, along with COVID-19 vaccination, helps protect students, staff, family members, and others who are not currently vaccinated against COVID-19 or are otherwise at risk for getting seriously sick from COVID-19.
Testing programs help keep students in the classroom and allow them to take part in the other activities they love.

Yes they are -- they have a testing program. But no way am I opting in given this, as MCPS appears focused on quarantining as many kids as possible rather than keeping them in school.

Sorry, if your child tests positive you plan on sending them in? This is why MCPS created this policy. It's kind of genius actually. Shame people into keeping their kids home. Sounds like it's the right move.

If my kids test positive, I will not send them in, but I am not having them tested at school.

That's fine but stop complaining when they quarantine based off symptoms.

If they had stuck to their original quarantine policy, I would opt in. But it's clear that they will use any excuse to quarantine entire classes (and even entire grades in one case). I'm not going to contribute to that in any way.

Oh please, if you were going to opt in, you would have done it already, before this came out. You’re just using this as an excuse. And I’m sorry but this shouldn’t change your decision if you were truly going to opt in...that was for an actual test that would have told you if your kid actually had covid or not, which it seems like you are saying you support. Give me a break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who says this isn't following CDC guidelines can't read, chooses not to read, or doesn't understand what they are reading.
Close contact is with anyone positive for Covid (confirmed test result) OR clinically compatible (aka having a Covid SYMPTOM).
The CDC exemption for the classroom ONLY exempts students if they are 3, 4, 5, 6 feet apart AND wearing a mask. If students are 1 foot or 2 feet apart, that is close contact even if wearing a mask. Lunch and recess is still 6 feet. It's so annoying that the loudest voices are the ones who don't understand the rules.
That said, DHHS needs to implement rapid tests for school nurses and techs to give so right away a school can know if a student with
symptoms is positive. DHHS needs to lead this work as the health experts. MCPS doesn't make health decisions, they make educational ones.

CDC say in K-12 school guidance that close contacts are those in close contact with someone who has a positive COVID test--not someone with a COVID symptom. "This allows identifying which students, teachers, and staff with positive COVID-19 test results should isolate, and which close contacts should quarantine." https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html#contact-tracing (see section 8, Contact Tracing in Combination with Isolation and Quarantine)

Except they also recommend regular testing and MCPS isn't doing that.

As schools go back to in-person learning, many offer free, regular COVID-19 testing for students and staff.
Regular testing, along with COVID-19 vaccination, helps protect students, staff, family members, and others who are not currently vaccinated against COVID-19 or are otherwise at risk for getting seriously sick from COVID-19.
Testing programs help keep students in the classroom and allow them to take part in the other activities they love.

Yes they are -- they have a testing program. But no way am I opting in given this, as MCPS appears focused on quarantining as many kids as possible rather than keeping them in school.

Sorry, if your child tests positive you plan on sending them in? This is why MCPS created this policy. It's kind of genius actually. Shame people into keeping their kids home. Sounds like it's the right move.

If my kids test positive, I will not send them in, but I am not having them tested at school.

That's fine but stop complaining when they quarantine based off symptoms.

If they had stuck to their original quarantine policy, I would opt in. But it's clear that they will use any excuse to quarantine entire classes (and even entire grades in one case). I'm not going to contribute to that in any way.

Oh please, if you were going to opt in, you would have done it already, before this came out. You’re just using this as an excuse. And I’m sorry but this shouldn’t change your decision if you were truly going to opt in...that was for an actual test that would have told you if your kid actually had covid or not, which it seems like you are saying you support. Give me a break.

No I had been planning to opt in. But I’m not now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Right here in the definition of close contact

Close Contact through Proximity and Duration of Exposure: Someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinically compatible illness)

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tracing-plan/appendix.html

Exactly - an infected person, not someone who displays a symptom of infection.

What part of Clinically Compatible Illness do you not understand. Let me put it in easy to understand worlds for you. Clinically compatible = have a symptom or symptoms of the illness. A sore throat is clinically compatible to strep throat. It's also clinically compatible to Covid. So until you know which one it is for sure, you have unvaccinated kids quarantine so it doesn't spread if there is a positive test. I'd rather my kids come home for a few days while we wait and see instead of possibly exposing others.

That is not what it says in the guidance.

That is exactly what it says in the guidance. I literally cut and pasted from the guidance. The problem is people are not reading the full guidance and the links within the guidance. That is where the details are that everyone likes to ignore. The guidance should be more clear but it is there.

It does not say that one symptom--which could be a symptom of MANY other problems--is clinically compatible.

I don't know how to explain science to you if you are so unwilling to take the time to understand. Clinically compatible means you have a symptom, ANY single symptom, of an illness.

Vomiting is clinically compatible for food positioning, gastrointestinal issues, lactose intolerance, anxiety, eating too much, stomach cancer, punctured intestine, etc. it is also clinically compatible for COVID. Until a diagnosis is made it could be any of those possibilities. Because Covid is highly transmitted, until it can be ruled out with a negative test or alternate diagnosis, those in close contact should stay home to eliminate further possible spread. Where have you all been since March 2020??

If you're going to take it to this extreme, then enforce a seating chart in the classroom, in the lunch room, etc. But no...as soon as a kid leaves a skidmark in his underwear, it's time to quarantine the whole class.

I would hope those are already required and in place. If not that's fix #1 that needs to happen.

These are not in place. Teachers were specifically told that there are no social distancing requirements this fall. Most classroom teachers have regular required seating but kids are always separating out into groups, sitting on the rug, going to art class, going to recess, even just walking in lines in the hallway, at their cubbies, in the bathroom…

Social distancing isn’t really possible, but because of Covid quarantining I have been much more strict about limiting student movement and keeping students in assigned groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Right here in the definition of close contact

Close Contact through Proximity and Duration of Exposure: Someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinically compatible illness)

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tracing-plan/appendix.html

Exactly - an infected person, not someone who displays a symptom of infection.

What part of Clinically Compatible Illness do you not understand. Let me put it in easy to understand worlds for you. Clinically compatible = have a symptom or symptoms of the illness. A sore throat is clinically compatible to strep throat. It's also clinically compatible to Covid. So until you know which one it is for sure, you have unvaccinated kids quarantine so it doesn't spread if there is a positive test. I'd rather my kids come home for a few days while we wait and see instead of possibly exposing others.

That is not what it says in the guidance.

That is exactly what it says in the guidance. I literally cut and pasted from the guidance. The problem is people are not reading the full guidance and the links within the guidance. That is where the details are that everyone likes to ignore. The guidance should be more clear but it is there.

It does not say that one symptom--which could be a symptom of MANY other problems--is clinically compatible.

I don't know how to explain science to you if you are so unwilling to take the time to understand. Clinically compatible means you have a symptom, ANY single symptom, of an illness.

Vomiting is clinically compatible for food positioning, gastrointestinal issues, lactose intolerance, anxiety, eating too much, stomach cancer, punctured intestine, etc. it is also clinically compatible for COVID. Until a diagnosis is made it could be any of those possibilities. Because Covid is highly transmitted, until it can be ruled out with a negative test or alternate diagnosis, those in close contact should stay home to eliminate further possible spread. Where have you all been since March 2020??

If you're going to take it to this extreme, then enforce a seating chart in the classroom, in the lunch room, etc. But no...as soon as a kid leaves a skidmark in his underwear, it's time to quarantine the whole class.

I would hope those are already required and in place. If not that's fix #1 that needs to happen.

These are not in place. Teachers were specifically told that there are no social distancing requirements this fall. Most classroom teachers have regular required seating but kids are always separating out into groups, sitting on the rug, going to art class, going to recess, even just walking in lines in the hallway, at their cubbies, in the bathroom…

As being discussed, those two frameworks are entirely incompatible. You can't have this crazy quarantine policy without seating charts unless your real plan is to be deliberately destructive of in-person. In our FCPS ES, we have seating charts for everything (class, specials, lunch)...so you may hear about a story about a table that suddenly disappeared, but that's it. I mean there's no other way to read this than MoCo/MCPS wants to go from 1,000 quarantined to 60,000 quarantined in the next couple of weeks to force DL. It's so unfair to those kids to have such irresponsible adults in charge.

Yes! They have open seating, packed lunchrooms, kids all mixed up in different groups all day. Entirely incompatible with their draconian new quarantine idea!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who says this isn't following CDC guidelines can't read, chooses not to read, or doesn't understand what they are reading.
Close contact is with anyone positive for Covid (confirmed test result) OR clinically compatible (aka having a Covid SYMPTOM).
The CDC exemption for the classroom ONLY exempts students if they are 3, 4, 5, 6 feet apart AND wearing a mask. If students are 1 foot or 2 feet apart, that is close contact even if wearing a mask. Lunch and recess is still 6 feet. It's so annoying that the loudest voices are the ones who don't understand the rules.
That said, DHHS needs to implement rapid tests for school nurses and techs to give so right away a school can know if a student with
symptoms is positive. DHHS needs to lead this work as the health experts. MCPS doesn't make health decisions, they make educational ones.

CDC say in K-12 school guidance that close contacts are those in close contact with someone who has a positive COVID test--not someone with a COVID symptom. "This allows identifying which students, teachers, and staff with positive COVID-19 test results should isolate, and which close contacts should quarantine." https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html#contact-tracing (see section 8, Contact Tracing in Combination with Isolation and Quarantine)

Except they also recommend regular testing and MCPS isn't doing that.

As schools go back to in-person learning, many offer free, regular COVID-19 testing for students and staff.
Regular testing, along with COVID-19 vaccination, helps protect students, staff, family members, and others who are not currently vaccinated against COVID-19 or are otherwise at risk for getting seriously sick from COVID-19.
Testing programs help keep students in the classroom and allow them to take part in the other activities they love.

Yes they are -- they have a testing program. But no way am I opting in given this, as MCPS appears focused on quarantining as many kids as possible rather than keeping them in school.

Sorry, if your child tests positive you plan on sending them in? This is why MCPS created this policy. It's kind of genius actually. Shame people into keeping their kids home. Sounds like it's the right move.

If my kids test positive, I will not send them in, but I am not having them tested at school.

That's fine but stop complaining when they quarantine based off symptoms.

If they had stuck to their original quarantine policy, I would opt in. But it's clear that they will use any excuse to quarantine entire classes (and even entire grades in one case). I'm not going to contribute to that in any way.

Oh please, if you were going to opt in, you would have done it already, before this came out. You’re just using this as an excuse. And I’m sorry but this shouldn’t change your decision if you were truly going to opt in...that was for an actual test that would have told you if your kid actually had covid or not, which it seems like you are saying you support. Give me a break.

+1, you'd do it by now. No testing means no covid.

Stop with the complaining already. You knew this would be an issue in person. They were clear on what was going to happen. They don't want people to opt in or they would have made a bigger deal over testing. Don't ask, don't tell.

[Anonymous]

I am fine with this quarantine procedure if:

1. There is assigned seating AT ALL TIMES. And only the nearest students then become close contacts.

2. Close contacts in quarantine can test 4 days afterward and return to the classroom if the symptomatic child still hasn't communicated with the school. This allows for viral replication so that there is enough virus to test if the students has indeed been exposed to Covid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who says this isn't following CDC guidelines can't read, chooses not to read, or doesn't understand what they are reading.
Close contact is with anyone positive for Covid (confirmed test result) OR clinically compatible (aka having a Covid SYMPTOM).
The CDC exemption for the classroom ONLY exempts students if they are 3, 4, 5, 6 feet apart AND wearing a mask. If students are 1 foot or 2 feet apart, that is close contact even if wearing a mask. Lunch and recess is still 6 feet. It's so annoying that the loudest voices are the ones who don't understand the rules.
That said, DHHS needs to implement rapid tests for school nurses and techs to give so right away a school can know if a student with
symptoms is positive. DHHS needs to lead this work as the health experts. MCPS doesn't make health decisions, they make educational ones.

CDC say in K-12 school guidance that close contacts are those in close contact with someone who has a positive COVID test--not someone with a COVID symptom. "This allows identifying which students, teachers, and staff with positive COVID-19 test results should isolate, and which close contacts should quarantine." https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html#contact-tracing (see section 8, Contact Tracing in Combination with Isolation and Quarantine)

Except they also recommend regular testing and MCPS isn't doing that.

As schools go back to in-person learning, many offer free, regular COVID-19 testing for students and staff.
Regular testing, along with COVID-19 vaccination, helps protect students, staff, family members, and others who are not currently vaccinated against COVID-19 or are otherwise at risk for getting seriously sick from COVID-19.
Testing programs help keep students in the classroom and allow them to take part in the other activities they love.

Yes they are -- they have a testing program. But no way am I opting in given this, as MCPS appears focused on quarantining as many kids as possible rather than keeping them in school.

Sorry, if your child tests positive you plan on sending them in? This is why MCPS created this policy. It's kind of genius actually. Shame people into keeping their kids home. Sounds like it's the right move.

If my kids test positive, I will not send them in, but I am not having them tested at school.

That's fine but stop complaining when they quarantine based off symptoms.

If they had stuck to their original quarantine policy, I would opt in. But it's clear that they will use any excuse to quarantine entire classes (and even entire grades in one case). I'm not going to contribute to that in any way.

Maybe if more people opted in they wouldn’t have come up with this policy. This board was full of people vowing not to opt in since before the school year started. I really don’t understand that attitude.

Its about their needs, not their child's or the community. They only care about themselves. Or, they know, and they send their kids anyway and then it ruins it for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Right here in the definition of close contact

Close Contact through Proximity and Duration of Exposure: Someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinically compatible illness)

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tracing-plan/appendix.html

Exactly - an infected person, not someone who displays a symptom of infection.

What part of Clinically Compatible Illness do you not understand. Let me put it in easy to understand worlds for you. Clinically compatible = have a symptom or symptoms of the illness. A sore throat is clinically compatible to strep throat. It's also clinically compatible to Covid. So until you know which one it is for sure, you have unvaccinated kids quarantine so it doesn't spread if there is a positive test. I'd rather my kids come home for a few days while we wait and see instead of possibly exposing others.

That is not what it says in the guidance.

That is exactly what it says in the guidance. I literally cut and pasted from the guidance. The problem is people are not reading the full guidance and the links within the guidance. That is where the details are that everyone likes to ignore. The guidance should be more clear but it is there.

It does not say that one symptom--which could be a symptom of MANY other problems--is clinically compatible.

I don't know how to explain science to you if you are so unwilling to take the time to understand. Clinically compatible means you have a symptom, ANY single symptom, of an illness.

Vomiting is clinically compatible for food positioning, gastrointestinal issues, lactose intolerance, anxiety, eating too much, stomach cancer, punctured intestine, etc. it is also clinically compatible for COVID. Until a diagnosis is made it could be any of those possibilities. Because Covid is highly transmitted, until it can be ruled out with a negative test or alternate diagnosis, those in close contact should stay home to eliminate further possible spread. Where have you all been since March 2020??

If you're going to take it to this extreme, then enforce a seating chart in the classroom, in the lunch room, etc. But no...as soon as a kid leaves a skidmark in his underwear, it's time to quarantine the whole class.

I would hope those are already required and in place. If not that's fix #1 that needs to happen.

These are not in place. Teachers were specifically told that there are no social distancing requirements this fall. Most classroom teachers have regular required seating but kids are always separating out into groups, sitting on the rug, going to art class, going to recess, even just walking in lines in the hallway, at their cubbies, in the bathroom…

As being discussed, those two frameworks are entirely incompatible. You can't have this crazy quarantine policy without seating charts unless your real plan is to be deliberately destructive of in-person. In our FCPS ES, we have seating charts for everything (class, specials, lunch)...so you may hear about a story about a table that suddenly disappeared, but that's it. I mean there's no other way to read this than MoCo/MCPS wants to go from 1,000 quarantined to 60,000 quarantined in the next couple of weeks to force DL. It's so unfair to those kids to have such irresponsible adults in charge.

Yes! They have open seating, packed lunchrooms, kids all mixed up in different groups all day. Entirely incompatible with their draconian new quarantine idea!

My ES has assigned lunch seating.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it’s safe to say that this new quarantine policy is going to have to change how kids sit and move through the building. That was a big Friday afternoon surprise that our principal either didn’t know about or didn’t announce to staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who says this isn't following CDC guidelines can't read, chooses not to read, or doesn't understand what they are reading.
Close contact is with anyone positive for Covid (confirmed test result) OR clinically compatible (aka having a Covid SYMPTOM).
The CDC exemption for the classroom ONLY exempts students if they are 3, 4, 5, 6 feet apart AND wearing a mask. If students are 1 foot or 2 feet apart, that is close contact even if wearing a mask. Lunch and recess is still 6 feet. It's so annoying that the loudest voices are the ones who don't understand the rules.
That said, DHHS needs to implement rapid tests for school nurses and techs to give so right away a school can know if a student with
symptoms is positive. DHHS needs to lead this work as the health experts. MCPS doesn't make health decisions, they make educational ones.

CDC say in K-12 school guidance that close contacts are those in close contact with someone who has a positive COVID test--not someone with a COVID symptom. "This allows identifying which students, teachers, and staff with positive COVID-19 test results should isolate, and which close contacts should quarantine." https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html#contact-tracing (see section 8, Contact Tracing in Combination with Isolation and Quarantine)

Except they also recommend regular testing and MCPS isn't doing that.

As schools go back to in-person learning, many offer free, regular COVID-19 testing for students and staff.
Regular testing, along with COVID-19 vaccination, helps protect students, staff, family members, and others who are not currently vaccinated against COVID-19 or are otherwise at risk for getting seriously sick from COVID-19.
Testing programs help keep students in the classroom and allow them to take part in the other activities they love.

Yes they are -- they have a testing program. But no way am I opting in given this, as MCPS appears focused on quarantining as many kids as possible rather than keeping them in school.

Sorry, if your child tests positive you plan on sending them in? This is why MCPS created this policy. It's kind of genius actually. Shame people into keeping their kids home. Sounds like it's the right move.

If my kids test positive, I will not send them in, but I am not having them tested at school.

That's fine but stop complaining when they quarantine based off symptoms.

If they had stuck to their original quarantine policy, I would opt in. But it's clear that they will use any excuse to quarantine entire classes (and even entire grades in one case). I'm not going to contribute to that in any way.

Oh please, if you were going to opt in, you would have done it already, before this came out. You’re just using this as an excuse. And I’m sorry but this shouldn’t change your decision if you were truly going to opt in...that was for an actual test that would have told you if your kid actually had covid or not, which it seems like you are saying you support. Give me a break.

+1, you'd do it by now. No testing means no covid.

Stop with the complaining already. You knew this would be an issue in person. They were clear on what was going to happen. They don't want people to opt in or they would have made a bigger deal over testing. Don't ask, don't tell.

They were clear on what was going to happen? That’s laughable. They absolutely were not. In fact, the prior week they passed and sent to the entire community a different plan, based on CDC guidance. Then people started finding out it had changed not from central office, but from principals who suddenly implemented different quarantine standards. We still don’t know who changed it—everyone is blaming one another. It’s an utter mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 3rd grade kid in a class that was sent home. A classmate complained of a headache and got sent home. The whole class was instructed to isolate. The kid with a headache got a negative covid test so the class is allowed to return on Wednesday (Tuesday is a no school day). I think it’s too much. Kids shouldn’t be forced to isolate for symptoms only.

Without regular testing, that's the only way to do it.

FFS. No it is NOT. Send the sick kid home only. There is no reason to send hundreds of healthy kids home. None. Look at how every other school district in the world is handling this.

Yes but MoCo is so so much smarter than everyone else:

I know and I'm so glad I live in a place that is run by responsible people safe guarding our children.

Or maybe does children unnecessary harm. People have been asked to do a lot of draconian things without much if any evidence that that the draconian thing has better outcomes or doesn’t result in harm compared to alternatives. Parents need to start questioning these policies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who says this isn't following CDC guidelines can't read, chooses not to read, or doesn't understand what they are reading.
Close contact is with anyone positive for Covid (confirmed test result) OR clinically compatible (aka having a Covid SYMPTOM).
The CDC exemption for the classroom ONLY exempts students if they are 3, 4, 5, 6 feet apart AND wearing a mask. If students are 1 foot or 2 feet apart, that is close contact even if wearing a mask. Lunch and recess is still 6 feet. It's so annoying that the loudest voices are the ones who don't understand the rules.
That said, DHHS needs to implement rapid tests for school nurses and techs to give so right away a school can know if a student with
symptoms is positive. DHHS needs to lead this work as the health experts. MCPS doesn't make health decisions, they make educational ones.

CDC say in K-12 school guidance that close contacts are those in close contact with someone who has a positive COVID test--not someone with a COVID symptom. "This allows identifying which students, teachers, and staff with positive COVID-19 test results should isolate, and which close contacts should quarantine." https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html#contact-tracing (see section 8, Contact Tracing in Combination with Isolation and Quarantine)

Except they also recommend regular testing and MCPS isn't doing that.

As schools go back to in-person learning, many offer free, regular COVID-19 testing for students and staff.
Regular testing, along with COVID-19 vaccination, helps protect students, staff, family members, and others who are not currently vaccinated against COVID-19 or are otherwise at risk for getting seriously sick from COVID-19.
Testing programs help keep students in the classroom and allow them to take part in the other activities they love.

Yes they are -- they have a testing program. But no way am I opting in given this, as MCPS appears focused on quarantining as many kids as possible rather than keeping them in school.

Sorry, if your child tests positive you plan on sending them in? This is why MCPS created this policy. It's kind of genius actually. Shame people into keeping their kids home. Sounds like it's the right move.

If my kids test positive, I will not send them in, but I am not having them tested at school.

That's fine but stop complaining when they quarantine based off symptoms.

If they had stuck to their original quarantine policy, I would opt in. But it's clear that they will use any excuse to quarantine entire classes (and even entire grades in one case). I'm not going to contribute to that in any way.

Oh please, if you were going to opt in, you would have done it already, before this came out. You’re just using this as an excuse. And I’m sorry but this shouldn’t change your decision if you were truly going to opt in...that was for an actual test that would have told you if your kid actually had covid or not, which it seems like you are saying you support. Give me a break.

+1, you'd do it by now. No testing means no covid.

Stop with the complaining already. You knew this would be an issue in person. They were clear on what was going to happen. They don't want people to opt in or they would have made a bigger deal over testing. Don't ask, don't tell.

They were clear on what was going to happen? That’s laughable. They absolutely were not. In fact, the prior week they passed and sent to the entire community a different plan, based on CDC guidance. Then people started finding out it had changed not from central office, but from principals who suddenly implemented different quarantine standards. We still don’t know who changed it—everyone is blaming one another. It’s an utter mess.

Yes, it felt like principals went rogue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Right here in the definition of close contact

Close Contact through Proximity and Duration of Exposure: Someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinically compatible illness)

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tracing-plan/appendix.html

Exactly - an infected person, not someone who displays a symptom of infection.

What part of Clinically Compatible Illness do you not understand. Let me put it in easy to understand worlds for you. Clinically compatible = have a symptom or symptoms of the illness. A sore throat is clinically compatible to strep throat. It's also clinically compatible to Covid. So until you know which one it is for sure, you have unvaccinated kids quarantine so it doesn't spread if there is a positive test. I'd rather my kids come home for a few days while we wait and see instead of possibly exposing others.

That is not what it says in the guidance.

That is exactly what it says in the guidance. I literally cut and pasted from the guidance. The problem is people are not reading the full guidance and the links within the guidance. That is where the details are that everyone likes to ignore. The guidance should be more clear but it is there.

It does not say that one symptom--which could be a symptom of MANY other problems--is clinically compatible.

I don't know how to explain science to you if you are so unwilling to take the time to understand. Clinically compatible means you have a symptom, ANY single symptom, of an illness.

Vomiting is clinically compatible for food positioning, gastrointestinal issues, lactose intolerance, anxiety, eating too much, stomach cancer, punctured intestine, etc. it is also clinically compatible for COVID. Until a diagnosis is made it could be any of those possibilities. Because Covid is highly transmitted, until it can be ruled out with a negative test or alternate diagnosis, those in close contact should stay home to eliminate further possible spread. Where have you all been since March 2020??

If you're going to take it to this extreme, then enforce a seating chart in the classroom, in the lunch room, etc. But no...as soon as a kid leaves a skidmark in his underwear, it's time to quarantine the whole class.

I would hope those are already required and in place. If not that's fix #1 that needs to happen.

These are not in place. Teachers were specifically told that there are no social distancing requirements this fall. Most classroom teachers have regular required seating but kids are always separating out into groups, sitting on the rug, going to art class, going to recess, even just walking in lines in the hallway, at their cubbies, in the bathroom…

As being discussed, those two frameworks are entirely incompatible. You can't have this crazy quarantine policy without seating charts unless your real plan is to be deliberately destructive of in-person. In our FCPS ES, we have seating charts for everything (class, specials, lunch)...so you may hear about a story about a table that suddenly disappeared, but that's it. I mean there's no other way to read this than MoCo/MCPS wants to go from 1,000 quarantined to 60,000 quarantined in the next couple of weeks to force DL. It's so unfair to those kids to have such irresponsible adults in charge.

Yes! They have open seating, packed lunchrooms, kids all mixed up in different groups all day. Entirely incompatible with their draconian new quarantine idea!

Gosh that’s terrible- what school? Our ES isn’t like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 3rd grade kid in a class that was sent home. A classmate complained of a headache and got sent home. The whole class was instructed to isolate. The kid with a headache got a negative covid test so the class is allowed to return on Wednesday (Tuesday is a no school day). I think it’s too much. Kids shouldn’t be forced to isolate for symptoms only.

Without regular testing, that's the only way to do it.

FFS. No it is NOT. Send the sick kid home only. There is no reason to send hundreds of healthy kids home. None. Look at how every other school district in the world is handling this.

Yes but MoCo is so so much smarter than everyone else:

I know and I'm so glad I live in a place that is run by responsible people safe guarding our children.

Or maybe does children unnecessary harm. People have been asked to do a lot of draconian things without much if any evidence that that the draconian thing has better outcomes or doesn’t result in harm compared to alternatives. Parents need to start questioning these policies.

Really sad how some of you don’t care about keeping your kids safe.