Students exposed to COVID have new tool to stay in school
From North Central Public Health District:
The new “Test to Stay” option for schools was quickly put into use on its first day earlier this week at a North Wasco County School District 21 school, and allowed several students to stay in school rather than go home to quarantine.
The test to stay program also allowed students to stay in school in Sherman County. The voluntary program allows asymptomatic, unvaccinated students and staff who were exposed to a positive case of COVID-19 at school -- in an environment where universal masking and safe distancing measures are utilized -- to stay in school rather than be quarantined at home as long as they test negative for COVID-19.
Test to stay can’t be used for exposure during extracurricular activities because masking in those settings is optional. It also can’t be used for community or in-home exposures. Stephanie Bowen, communications director for D21, said students at several schools were tested and allowed to stay in school the first day the option was offered this week. Schools are responsible to test the student who is a close contact.
Two rapid tests are done, the first on the day the exposure is identified, and the second on day 5-7 after the first test, Bowen said. Vaccinated students and staff do not need to quarantine if they are a close contact of a positive case, she said.
The risk of transmission is minimized in school settings because the required testing is combined with several layers of mitigation. This includes masking, physical distancing, limiting contact to specific groups and utilizing ventilation, according to the Oregon Department of Education. The testing is offered at no cost to participants.
This is a modified quarantine, and students are expected to still quarantine at home. Students and staff can still participate in school-related extracurricular activities during their quarantine but must remain masked at all times. '
Dufur and Maupin schools are also geared up to for the program but have not had to use it yet, the superintendents each said earlier this week. Sherman County School Superintendent Wes Owen said they’d been able to allow several students to stay in school through the test-to-stay program.
Bowen stressed the test-to-stay program is voluntary and confidential. The parent of any student 14 or younger has to consent to the test. A student 15 or older can consent to the test on their own.
"Our primary focus is keeping our students onsite for in-person learning, safely, as much as possible. Implementing the Test to Stay program gives us this opportunity,” Bowen said.
Weekly vaccine update: Last week, at least 90 doses of vaccine were administered by local entities, and the cumulative total is at least 30,740. Those numbers don’t include vaccinations by pharmacies.
In Wasco County, 78.6% of adults 18 and older have received at least one dose. In Sherman County it’s 67.6% and in Gilliam County it’s 52.3%.
To book a first, second, or a third dose for an immune compromised student or a booster for everyone 18 and older, click here. Or call NCPHD at 541-506-2600.
NCPHD does not administer pediatric doses for ages 5-11. All vaccines, including pediatric doses, are available at local pharmacies.
Safeway does not administer pediatric doses.
Mid-Columbia Medical Center clinics offer pediatric doses to established patients. One Community Health offers pediatric and adult doses to their patients.
