Updated GLOBE quarantine policies

Dear GLOBE community,

Today marks the beginning of The GLOBE Academy's new COVID-19 quarantine policy.

Because the omicron variant did not become widespread until after we left for winter break, we wanted to have a few weeks of data in-hand before making any changes to our policies and procedures. After reviewing our data with our team of Emory epidemiologists and considering the unique circumstances across our two campuses, we are announcing two important changes to our quarantine policies, effective immediately:

1. Shorter quarantine for those who are not up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines and have been exposed to COVID-19 outside of their household.
   • With a negative test taken on day 5, these individuals may return to school on day 6 after exposure (previously day 8).
   •These individuals may return on day 11 after exposure, should they choose not to receive a COVID-19 test.
   
   
2. All students on Lower Campus who have a household member who is COVID-19 positive must stay at home for at least five days from their household member’s positive test or start of symptoms (whichever came first).
   • Students up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines can return on day 6, with a negative test taken on day 5.
   • Students NOT up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines can return on day 11, with a negative test taken on day 10.

These policy changes are described in detail below and are also outlined in the annex section of GLOBE’s Health and Safety Playbook v2.a. Any policies not addressed in the annex remain unchanged.

We regularly monitor GLOBE-specific data and will continue to make adjustments to allow us to maintain the balance of keeping our community both safe and on-campus. GLOBE's multi-layered prevention strategy of masking, testing, and vaccination, guided by our school-specific playbook, has allowed us to have far fewer cases than many other schools.

As we enter the third year of the pandemic, our collective work is paying off and keeping our kids safe and in school. Keep up the good work, GLOBE!

In health,

Christi Elliott-Earby

Executive Director

Those who ARE up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations do not need to quarantine at home if they are exposed to someone outside of their household.

• They must seek a negative PCR or rapid antigen test on day 5, 6, or 7 to continue attending school in-person.
  
  

• They can remain attending school in-person if they do not develop symptoms of COVID-19.

Those who ARE NOT up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations must quarantine at home for a full 5 days.

• Their “day zero” is marked by the date of their most recent exposure.
  
  

• They may return on day 6 if they:
  - Remain asymptomatic, and
  - Receive a negative COVID-19 test on day 5.
  
  At-home tests cannot be used to return to school. The test must be a PCR or rapid antigen test collected at an official laboratory testing location.

Since January 10, 2022, there have been several instances of COVID-19 transmission on Lower Campus between siblings and/or parents (both vaccinated and unvaccinated) that have triggered quarantines in multiple classrooms. To reduce the number of children in quarantine, and the number of COVID-19 cases at GLOBE, all students on Lower Campus who have a COVID-19 positive individual in their household must stay home for at least 5 days after their household member tests positive.

Data from GLOBE indicates that, on average, Lower Campus students living with someone with COVID-19 test positive 2-3 days after their household member tests positive.

“Day zero” for Lower Campus students living with someone with COVID-19 is marked by the day that their household member tests positive or when their symptoms developed, whichever comes first. Just as with an in-school exposure, the length of quarantine depends on the student’s vaccination status:

• LC students who ARE up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations must stay home for 5 days from the positive test result of their family member or the date that their symptoms developed, whichever comes first.
  They may return on day 6 with a negative COVID-19 test taken on day 5.

• LC students who ARE NOT up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations must stay home for 10 days from the positive test result of their family member or the date that their symptoms developed, whichever comes first.
  They may return on day 11 with a negative COVID-19 test taken on day 10.
  This quarantine period accounts for the 5 days of isolation for their family member and an additional 5 days of quarantine for the unvaccinated student.

Since GLOBE data is not showing similar transmission patterns among Upper Campus students, quarantine policies for UC remain unchanged. The exception is that those who are eligible to return to campus must have a series of negative COVID-19 tests to remain in-school. Nurse Robinson or Upper Campus administration will provide individuals in this situation with further details specific to the timing and context of each situation. This policy may be revised if COVID-19 trends change at Upper Campus.

At this time, our existing isolation policies remain unchanged: anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 must stay at home for 10 days.

Although CDC guidelines permit those with COVID-19 to return on days 6-10, this guidance includes proper mask wearing at all times the person is around others.

Since it is not feasible to guarantee 100% outdoor dining, and GLOBE students must remove their masks to eat, we cannot permit students who test positive for COVID-19 to return to campus until day 11.

The GLOBE Academy | LC: 2225 Heritage Drive , UC: 4105 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta, GA 30345

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