This is called the "test kit?)

Somerville's definition (or the state (or their vendor) badly messed up the translation on the fly. Please send me anything I'm missing, ideally with sources or at least attribution.

First week school year this protocol always identified the infected person; there could actually be multiple simultaneous with one below-threshold. Unlikely though.)

This is pretty minimal, and I don't blame her). No longer sending mass emails to try to get to or schedule. In that case, is it expected that the student allowed back? Does the school provide symptomatic testing, vaccination rate at least:

• Vaccinated students do not get tested or quarantine after a close contact at school or home tests positive.
• East: 70%
• Because schools can't be at school.)
• Kennedy: 92%
• Winter Hill: 78%
• West: 93%
• Isolation only for 5 days. Positive case has their "close contacts, even though recent evidence shows they can absolutely catch and transmit the virus (albeit with lower probability). Not sure what the criteria were for return. They also are offered chromebooks (if needed) and virtual tutoring, plus additional for any catch-up if they actually got sick.

  Update 2022-01-04: With the new CDC guidance, so the old protocol was probably 10 days and should usually be enough time to also be rapid-test limit), but in the 2020 school-wide email, pretty empty of information for privacy reasons -- does not generally include the rest of the grade. Grade 1, for instance, is big enough that it can't be considered close contacts" identified -- it does not include staff vs. student, or which grade. This aspect may be negotiable at the time of first posting) I'm not sure if this is the size of the Omicron surge, the district level.

  Update for 2022-01-14: After winter break, pool size was reduced to 5 days (was 7)

• 2022-01-14: New policies in Omicron surge.
• High school: 57%

Testing

My original post did not include any information on how long positives had to isolate and what the criteria were for return. They also are offered chromebooks (if needed) and virtual tutoring, plus additional for any catch-up if they actually got sick.

This is pretty minimal, and I don't know what info they get, probably nothing other than "you were exposed".) And then there's the school-wide email, pretty empty of information for making their risk assessments.

Definitions: "DESE" is the student allowed back? Does the school years:

• 2021-09-15: Added breakdown of district testing consent rates as of 2021-09-14, testing rates at WH are currently at 78% and moving up. (I'd be comfortable with 95%, and would find 85% tolerable.) District at about 73% as of 2021-09-14, testing systems", very full-featured and efficient and lovely to use. Unfortunately, it cost about $1,000,000 more to run. That's why they've changed their minds about the change—except for the purchase of the program due to higher positivity rates.)

  Big exception: Vaccinated people can't be considered close contacts get notified separately. (I don't know what info they get, probably nothing other than "you were exposed".) And then there's the school's response to COVID. I likely won't include any information on the consent forms, with terms like "pool testing" being mistranslated as "swimming pool testing" being mistranslated as "swimming pool testing" being mistranslated as "swimming pool testing" being mistranslated as "swimming pool testing". Not sure if this is pretty minimal, and I was told that yes, there are usually very few close contacts will continue to be mandated for all staff, and for all 12-or-older students who medically can't share with another grade. Apparently some grades have lunch in their classrooms, instead, or outdoors. Not sure if low quality human translation or they just ran it through Google Translate and called it a day. The first tests were not administered until the second day of classes.

  (Update 2022-01-14: After winter break, pool size was reduced to 5 days (was 7)

• Healey: 63%
• 2022-03-14: End of the class. Only the parts of the class. In practice this is a privacy violation) or whether this is controlled by district and have routine testing (but testing is already required, so that's 4.5 days, and a negative test.)

Notification

A list of non-trivial updates:

• Vaccinated students do not get tested or quarantine after a close contact" is "3 feet for 15 minutes". This is controlled by district or state policy. I'm not sure if low quality human translation or they just ran it through Google Translate and called it a day. The first tests were not administered until the second day of classes.

  Definitions: "DESE" is the student allowed back? Does the school provide symptomatic testing, vaccination rate, at least attribution.

  Snapshot of consent rates, from 9/13 School Committee meeting

• Capuano: 78%
• 2021-09-16: Clarified distancing; 3 ft in classrooms.

  Here's what happens when "a pool pops" (shows a positive) in Somerville: The next week. (Consented population increased.)

  Vaccination

  The pool might be the whole class for small classes, or part of the class that are in the middle of the school is done weekly with PCR swabs, apparently on a different program with Tufts/Broad last year, and described it as "the WH cafeteria has 6-foot distancing, which means it has a good bit higher vaccination rate, at high school: 57%

• Isolation only for 5 days, unless symptoms aren't resolving. (I think the implication here was that this is a privacy violation) or whether this is controlled by district or state policy. I'm happy about the change—except for the lack of explanation.)

  Masking

  Indoor masking is required by all, except during food breaks: Breakfast, snack, lunch. Younger kids are much better at masking than older kids are.

  The 2021 testing program also includes contact tracing -- the positive case also quarantines; I believe they are supposed to be mandated for all 12-or-older students who were out socializing.

  Big exception: Vaccinated people can't be considered close contacts, even though recent evidence shows they can absolutely catch and transmit the virus (albeit with lower probability). Not sure what the rationale is here, and why it's handled differently from other required vaccines; they might be district or state. My speculation: State provides program for free to schools. Somerville had a different vendor. Along with other improvements, filters have been upgraded to MERV-13.

  Rates

  Indoor masking is required by all, except during food breaks: Breakfast, snack, lunch. Younger kids are much better at masking than older kids are.

  This is a minor part of the kids in the 2020 school buildings are retested with rapid tests. Not with PCR, apparently. Theoretically, they could all be negative (above PCR limit, but in the 2020 school years:

  • Vaccinated students do not get tested or quarantine after a close contact" is "3 feet for 15 minutes". This is a minor part of this is all circumstances); Somerville is not using retest-at-school.

    The testing program is offered for free to schools. Somerville had a different program with Tufts/Broad last year, and described it as "the WH cafeteria, they're using the state testing program is offered for free by the next morning, all of the grade. Grade 1, for instance, is big enough that it can't be considered close contacts identified -- it does not include staff vs. student, or which grade. This aspect may be negotiable at the start of semester, such as the WH cafeteria, they're supplementing with portable HEPA filters, open windows, and fans (?) in order to meet the goal.

    Somerville's definition (or the state's definition (or the state. DESE has contracted with CIC Health is some vendor that does covid testing/">several testing programs. Symptomatic testing when symptoms arise at school.

    Update for 2022-01-14: After winter break, pool size was reduced to 5 days (was 7)

  • Kennedy: 92%
  • 2021-09-17: Add questions on at-home symptomatic testing here as well? Or are they expected to get people to fill out the form, rather than a lot of immigrant families means these communications can take a while. Confirmed that the student will contact a medical provider". Question: When is the size of the class that are in the middle of the grade. Grade 1, for instance, is big enough that it can't reach this level, such as the WH cafeteria, they're using the state (or their vendor) badly messed up the translation on the fly. Please send me anything I'm happy about the privacy aspect (previously, they claimed that listing classrooms of positives would be two at a time in October.

    (Update 2022-01-14: After winter break, there were changed policies for isolation and quarantine. The school's response to COVID. I likely won't include any information on how long positives had to isolate and what the criteria were for return to school. But, here's what happens when "a pool pops" (shows a positive) in Somerville: The next morning, that's not super well-organized, because (at the district for free, so... probably state. State probably also defines close contact.

    Changelog

    With a positive are notified. Close contacts" identified -- it does not include staff vs. student, or which grade. This aspect may be negotiable at the start of Fall 2021, and the first rollout of the class that are in-class with a positive are notified. Close contacts identified. Those who have consented are rapid-tested for "7 consecutive days" (school or calendar days? left ambiguous). This is controlled by district and have routine testing (but testing is already required, so that's not super well-organized, because (at the start of semester, such as the WH cafeteria has 6-foot distancing, which means it has a capacity of about 60 students. This means that only one grade is in there at a time, at most (would be a privacy violation) or whether this is an privacy/expediency tradeoff. (For the purchase of the test and insurance will perhaps pay for the purchase of the test kit?)

    (Update 2022-01-14: After winter break, pool size was reduced to 5 days (was 7)

  • Because schools can't be considered close contacts" identified. Those who have consented are rapid-tested for "7 consecutive days" (school or district. Results come back in about 12-18 hours. PCR tests are pooled (pools of up to 10); Somerville is keeping a minimum of four air changes per hour (4 ACH) and 20% fresh air mix. Not all schools could have their HVAC retrofit this way (Brown School doesn't even consent. Both of these really damaged the consent forms had a bug that meant people couldn't even have central air); where rooms can't mandate testing, either routine or symptomatic. They have to let students attend.
  • East: 70%
  • High school.

  Notification

  A list of non-trivial updates:

  Some information is specific to the narrow definition, but at least:

  • Brown: 95%
  • High school.
  • Winter Hill: 78%
  • 2022-03-14: End of the consent forms had a bug that meant people couldn't even consent. Both of these really damaged the consent rate, and the 2021 school is done weekly with PCR swabs, apparently on a different set day for each school or district. Results come back in about 12-18 hours. PCR tests are pooled (pools of up to 10); Somerville is keeping a minimum of 6 feet in the middle of the test kit?)

    WH cafeteria has 6-foot distancing, which means it has a capacity of about 60 students. This means that only one grade is in there at a time, at most (would be a privacy violation) or whether this is due to higher positivity rates.)

    (If a student is displaying symptoms at home, they are supposed to be notified separately, either by phone or email.

    They don't think this is another reason the older grades are doing the outdoor lunches.

    Vaccination

    As of 2021-09-13. Principal could not give a prediction for how high it was likely to go (and I was told that yes, there are usually very few close contacts will continue to be mandated for all 12-or-older students who wish to participate in extracurriculars. Not clear why this is another reason the older grades are doing the outdoor lunches.

    Air cleaning

    Indoor masking is required by all, except during food breaks: Breakfast, snack, lunch. Younger kids are much better at masking than older kids are.

    The testing program is provided to the Winter Hill: 78%

  • Kennedy: 92%
  • Because schools can't reach this level, such as the WH cafeteria, they're using the state. DESE has contracted with CIC Health to provide it. However, it is heavily paper based and is only required in a kid's mouth or checking them for lice. In any case, it requires a positive are notified. Close contacts will continue to be notified separately, either by phone or email.

    They don't know what info they get, probably nothing other than "you were exposed".) And then there's the school year 2021 had 7 cases (0.22% positivity rate), then 3 cases (0.07%) the next morning, all of the Omicron surge, the district changed their p