LM to Implement Mask to Stay, Test to Play Guidelines
Yesterday, October 25th, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced a new quarantine option - Mask to Stay, Test to Play – for students exposed to COVID-19 at school. The guidelines put forth yesterday aim to help Little Miami’s goal of keeping healthy students at school and participating in the activities they love. These new guidelines are another step in ensuring that our children stay connected to their educators and classmates - a crucial component for children’s mental wellness.
This new quarantine option only applies to those students exposed to COVID-19 in a school setting. Students exposed to COVID-19 outside of school should continue to follow standard quarantine guidelines.
**The Warren County Health District will continue to notify families (through Little Miami) when they have a student who is a direct contact at school. Students who are a direct contact due to a school exposure have the choice to opt in to the Mask to Stay option or can choose to quarantine at home.
Mask to Stay
Under Mask to Stay guidance, students can continue with in-person learning after being directly exposed to COVID-19 in a school setting if they do the following:
- Wear a mask for at least 14 days after the initial exposure date
- Self-monitor or have a parent monitor for symptoms of COVID-19
- Isolate and get tested if they show symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of the severity of symptoms
- Students and staff discontinue these procedures after seven days — if they meet two basic criteria: one – they do not develop symptoms, and two – they test negative between days 5-7
Test to Play
Test to Play permits students to participate in extracurricular activities after being directly exposed to COVID-19 in a school setting if they:
- Wear a mask when able, such as while on a team bus, in the locker room or while on the sidelines or bench
- Get tested for COVID-19 once they learn they were exposed to the virus
- Test again between days five and seven following the initial exposure.
- Students discontinue these procedures after seven days if they test negative for the virus on days 5, 6, or 7 from their exposure.
Learn more about the Mask to Stay, Test to Play quarantine option.
