MCPS Officially announces schools opening as planned

[Anonymous]

Just saw the official email. Somewhat glad that they are sticking with the old quarantine guidelines for now, since that allows 12-15 year olds that haven’t been boosted yet to continue to attend school even if they’re close contact. Should be OBE in a week or so though.

[Anonymous]

It's sad when DCPS has a better plan than MCPS on returning to school. MCPS won't even have tests available for a couple of weeks and does not accurately report cases anyway. Why can DCPS require testing and vaccination, while MCPS is still asking nicely to test if you feel like it and vaccinate if you're willing? Que Sera, Sera.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There needs to be mandatory testing at the schools.

Mandatory testing of asymptomatic kids? I disagree. I think its a waste of time and resources. Testing of symptomatic kids is essential, followed by quarantine for positives. Importantly, I think that kids need to learn that COVID is not going to be the end of the world. The fear I see in some of my 6th and 8th graders' friends is heartbreaking. It's time to adapt - last night each kid here for a sleep-over took a rapid test upon arrival. I offered the tests for their and their parents' peace of mind. That is just an example for saying that I support greater use of at-home testing over testing at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There needs to be mandatory testing at the schools.

Mandatory testing of asymptomatic kids? I disagree. I think its a waste of time and resources. Testing of symptomatic kids is essential, followed by quarantine for positives. Importantly, I think that kids need to learn that COVID is not going to be the end of the world. The fear I see in some of my 6th and 8th graders' friends is heartbreaking. It's time to adapt - last night each kid here for a sleep-over took a rapid test upon arrival. I offered the tests for their and their parents' peace of mind. That is just an example for saying that I support greater use of at-home testing over testing at school.

Mandatory testing of asymptomatic kids is ridiculous. Not necessary and a waste of time and resources.

Also agree that we need to get used to the idea that kids don’t have to be terrified of Covid. I also have an 8th grader and she has commented on how terrified some of her friends are of getting Covid.

[Anonymous]

Don't have time to read through it all after all the other related threads. If they are keeping the 5% unrelated positive rate rule, and if some aren't testing or reporting, then they need to ask an epidemiologist and a statistician to quickly come up with a proxy for the 5% based only on those that DO report so that the system can't be gamed to keep a school open when it shouldn't be (or game the system the other way, either).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There needs to be mandatory testing at the schools.

Mandatory testing of asymptomatic kids? I disagree. I think its a waste of time and resources. Testing of symptomatic kids is essential, followed by quarantine for positives. Importantly, I think that kids need to learn that COVID is not going to be the end of the world. The fear I see in some of my 6th and 8th graders' friends is heartbreaking. It's time to adapt - last night each kid here for a sleep-over took a rapid test upon arrival. I offered the tests for their and their parents' peace of mind. That is just an example for saying that I support greater use of at-home testing over testing at school.

Asymptomatic kids are positive and need to stay home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There needs to be mandatory testing at the schools.

Mandatory testing of asymptomatic kids? I disagree. I think its a waste of time and resources. Testing of symptomatic kids is essential, followed by quarantine for positives. Importantly, I think that kids need to learn that COVID is not going to be the end of the world. The fear I see in some of my 6th and 8th graders' friends is heartbreaking. It's time to adapt - last night each kid here for a sleep-over took a rapid test upon arrival. I offered the tests for their and their parents' peace of mind. That is just an example for saying that I support greater use of at-home testing over testing at school.

Asymptomatic kids are positive and need to stay home.

I presume you mean asymptomatic kids who've already tested positive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There needs to be mandatory testing at the schools.

Mandatory testing of asymptomatic kids? I disagree. I think its a waste of time and resources. Testing of symptomatic kids is essential, followed by quarantine for positives. Importantly, I think that kids need to learn that COVID is not going to be the end of the world. The fear I see in some of my 6th and 8th graders' friends is heartbreaking. It's time to adapt - last night each kid here for a sleep-over took a rapid test upon arrival. I offered the tests for their and their parents' peace of mind. That is just an example for saying that I support greater use of at-home testing over testing at school.

This. Yay, glad school is opening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There needs to be mandatory testing at the schools.

Mandatory testing of asymptomatic kids? I disagree. I think its a waste of time and resources. Testing of symptomatic kids is essential, followed by quarantine for positives. Importantly, I think that kids need to learn that COVID is not going to be the end of the world. The fear I see in some of my 6th and 8th graders' friends is heartbreaking. It's time to adapt - last night each kid here for a sleep-over took a rapid test upon arrival. I offered the tests for their and their parents' peace of mind. That is just an example for saying that I support greater use of at-home testing over testing at school.

Asymptomatic kids are positive and need to stay home.

You're misunderstanding PP. She's referring to randomly testing kids without symptoms, not saying asymptomatic kids who are positive should be in school.

[Anonymous]

Good for Dr. McKnight to have the courage and strength that Jack did not have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s yesterday’s number. Today’s is likely to be higher.

That said, is there evidence of omicron transmission in schools?

Schools aren't magical places. Omicron spreads as well there as anywhere maybe more so since many kids don't wear their masks properly and the schools themselves are often overcrowded.

Oh well. Kids will get COVID. The idea of hiding from it forever through virtual school is untenable and irrational.

small brain thinks this way

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good for MCPS. I was sweating bullets. Glad Dr. McKnight has the courage to do what’s right for the kids for once.

I agree, but she could go a step farther and expand testing. I'm tired of hearing MCPS whining about too few families giving permission. One of my kids hasn't been asymptomatically tested all year. If they can't even test the kids who signed up for the program, what difference would it make to sign more up more students?

There seems to be *so* much variation on this. Both my kids are signed up and they have been getting tested almost every week (i'd say 3 times per month). Also, we were told we wouldn't get any info unless positive but one kids' negative test is emailed to me a few days after, every week.

Its really strange. Plus my kids are saying tons of their classmates get tested weekly (my elem schooler says half of the class). Could it be number of parents who gave permission is dictating the # tests supplied?

[Anonymous]

Glad schools will be open. Very unhappy that they aren't stepping up the testing. The consequence of not having testing of all, is that people will die. An asymptomatic kid will spread it to other kids, who will bring the virus home to an auto-immune compromised parent, maybe fighting breast cancer, or to a grandparent living with them.

And, because the virus will continue to spread throughout the schools and family of school children and then their parents and the offices where they work, hospitals will continue to be in code blue, people will have to wait to be treated for their heart attacks and cancer, and hospital staff will continue to burn out.

And so on and so on, prolonging the pain.

So yes, students need to be in school. And they need to wear appropriate masks (not home-made cloth ones). And, they should be tested.

And, not one school should be closed for one minute (no matter what the percentages of positive covid tests at the school) until bars and restaurants and every other place of business are also closed for indoor business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't have time to read through it all after all the other related threads. If they are keeping the 5% unrelated positive rate rule, and if some aren't testing or reporting, then they need to ask an epidemiologist and a statistician to quickly come up with a proxy for the 5% based only on those that DO report so that the system can't be gamed to keep a school open when it shouldn't be (or game the system the other way, either).

Statistician here. Testing needs to be mandatory. Sample is currently biased. Either get fully vaccinated or do on-site testing weekly. Those are the choices in most of corporate america now; not sure why it cannot happen in schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't have time to read through it all after all the other related threads. If they are keeping the 5% unrelated positive rate rule, and if some aren't testing or reporting, then they need to ask an epidemiologist and a statistician to quickly come up with a proxy for the 5% based only on those that DO report so that the system can't be gamed to keep a school open when it shouldn't be (or game the system the other way, either).

Statistician here. Testing needs to be mandatory. Sample is currently biased. Either get fully vaccinated or do on-site testing weekly. Those are the choices in most of corporate america now; not sure why it cannot happen in schools.

Do you have a line on an extra 150k rapid tests a week?