MAS COVID-19 Updated Guidance

Dear Laker Family,

Effective Thursday, January 20, Minnewaska Area Schools is updating the COVID-19 isolation guidance for ISD 2149 staff and students in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Minnesota Department of Health.

What is changing:


Staff and students who test positive for COVID-19 can begin a five-day isolation period from the onset of symptoms or testing date, whichever occurs first.

Individuals are eligible to return to sites on Day 6 if their symptoms are improving from the previous day.

Individuals who return on Day 6 are required to wear a mask through the entire 10-day period while in a scho
ol building.

If a mask can not be worn properly and/or effectively, the staff or student must remain in isolation for the entire 10 days.

During meals when removing masks students and staff must be socially distanced.

Activities: can return on day 6 and can return to competition on day 11. (Masks to be worn through day 10 even in activities) MSHSL COVID-19 GUIDANCE

Staff and students who are not vaccinated and have household members who test positive for COVID-19 can begin a 5-day isolation period from the onset of symptoms or testing date, whichever occurs first.

Individuals are eligible to return to sites on Day 6 as long as they do not have any symptoms.

Individuals who return on Day 6 are required to wear a mask through the entire 10-day period while in a school building.

If a mask can not be worn properly and/or effectively, the staff or student must remain in isolation for the entire 10 days.

During meals when removing masks students and staff must be socially distanced.

Activities: can return on day 6 and can return to competition on day 11. (Masks to be worn through day 10 even in activities)

When are things changing:

Staff and Students may follow the updated five-day isolation starting effectively Thursday, January 20, 2022.

If staff or students have questions regarding an adjusted return date, they should contact their school nurse to review the new isolation guidance.

The CDC has released a short article on why they are recommending this change. You can read that article HERE. The Minnesota Department of Health has supported this guidance from the CDC.

We know this news will bring relief to many of our families as it reduces the amount of instruction time our students will miss. However, we must continue to move forward with caution and refrain from sending students to school while sick (even if they have passed the five-day quarantine period). Working collaboratively to keep illness out of our schools is the single most effective strategy for allowing us to continue successful in-person education this school year.

Minnewaska Area Schools will be following the decision tree which can be found HERE. Thank you all for your understanding and continued partnership, every day we have our students in our schools, and in-person is a good day!

Respectfully,

Chip Rankin
Superintendent