Thank you for your patience as we work to implement the recent DOH COVID guidance updates and expand our opportunities to keep our students safe and in school.
The following protocols have been developed in alignment with DOH guidance and in consultation with the Kitsap Public Health District:
VACCINATION STATUS:
18+ years old: are now only considered fully vaccinated if they have completed their series within six months (2 months for J&J) or are boosted
5-17 years old: are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after completing their 2 shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech series.
COVID-19 case: anyone who has had and recovered from COVID-19 are under the same guidance as individuals who meet the criteria for being fully vaccinated
TESTING:
Symptomatic: students with COVID- like symptoms have access to onsite testing. If students test negative for COVID-19 immediately and again two days later, they may continue to attend class without interruption. There may be instances where students will need to go home when they are not feeling well. This will be assessed on a case by case basis. If a student tests positive for COVID-19 they will need to isolate according to the most recent guidance.
Close Contacts: we are now able to test students who are close contacts from community or household exposure. Students identified as close contacts in this setting will have the opportunity to continue to attend class without interruption if they are asymptomatic and participate in the Test to Stay program.
COVID Positive Cases: the isolation period for a person who tests positive for COVID-19 remains 10 days. However, in certain cases the isolation period may be reduced to 5 days. The modified quarantine option requires a person who tested positive for COVID-19:
to retest on day 5 or later
to test negative for COVID-19
to have improved symptoms
Students can test onsite on day 6 or later before reporting to class if their symptoms have improved. If your student tests positive they will need to continue to isolate for the full 10 day quarantine.
QUARANTINE/ISOLATION:
The Department of Health has identified three quarantine options for quarantining and isolation based on the circumstances of the case. In all cases where students return to school early they must wear a well fitted mask at all times, regardless of scenarios where masks may not be required otherwise (i.e. outdoors, while participating in sports).
Standard Quarantine/Isolation:
COVID positive case isolates for 10 days
Close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 quarantines for 10 days
Household contact (someone in your household has tested positive for COVID-19) quarantines for 20 days
Modified Quarantine:
COVID positive case isolates for 5 days; can return day 6 if symptoms have improved and they retest negative for COVID-19 on day 5 or later
Close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19; can return day 6 if asymptomatic and they retest negative for COVID-19 on day 5 or later
Household contact (someone in your household has tested positive for COVID-19); can return day 16 if asymptomatic and they retest negative for COVID-19 on day 15 or later
Test to Stay: is available to students
Close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19; can return immediately if asymptomatic and they test negative for COVID-19 twice in 5 days
Household contact (someone in your household has tested positive for COVID-19); can return immediately if asymptomatic and they test negative for COVID-19 multiple times in 15 days
Finally, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our BSD families for supporting our safety protocols. We know it places a burden on each of you and appreciate your commitment to the health and safety of our BSD community. We will get through this together.
Please reach out to our COVID-19 Coordinator, Kristen Morga (kristen.morga@bremertonschools.org), if you have any questions or suggestions.
Thank you so much for your patience and perseverance during this stressful time.
