COVID/Quarantine Overview
**UPDATE**
District Modifies COVID/Quarantine Protocols Based on State Recommendations
Mars Area School District has modified the District’s established COVID/Quarantine Protocols to address updated quarantine recommendations from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH).
While, as per the DOH, the most protective quarantine period remains at 14 days for those individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 and are identified as close contacts, health officials are now offering options to reduce or eliminate that quarantine period, depending upon whether or not an individual has been vaccinated:
Fully Vaccinated Individuals
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- Those individuals, who have been fully vaccinated and have been exposed to COVID-19 and are identified as a close contact, do not need to quarantine after exposure to a person with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 provided that:
- They are asymptomatic; and,
- It has been at least two (2) weeks since their receiving the second dose of the two-dose vaccine or one-dose of the single-dose vaccine.
- Those individuals, who have been fully vaccinated and have been exposed to COVID-19 and are identified as a close contact, do not need to quarantine after exposure to a person with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 provided that:
Non-Vaccinated Individuals
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- Those individuals, who have NOT been fully vaccinated and who have been exposed to COVID-19 and are identified as a close contact, may:
- Reduce their quarantine period to 10 days without testing if no symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring. As per the DOH, symptom monitoring must continue through Day 14; or
- Return after Day 7 with a negative PCR COVID Test Result. (Note: The test must occur on Day 5 or later). As per the DOH, symptom monitoring must continue through Day 14.
- Those, who have NOT been fully vaccinated and are identified as a close contact because they are living with a household member who has tested positive for COVID-19, but who are able to isolate from that individual,
- Must quarantine for the entirety of the COVID-positive individual’s quarantine period (14 days, if symptomatic, or 10 days with no symptoms).
- May return after Day 7 with a negative PCR COVID Test Result. (Note: The test must occur on Day 5 or later). As per the DOH, symptom monitoring must continue through Day 14.
- Those, who have NOT been fully vaccinated and are identified as a close contact because they are living with a household member who has tested positive for COVID-19, and who are unable to isolate from that individual:
- Must quarantine for the entirety of the COVID-positive individual’s quarantine period (14 days, if symptomatic, or 10 days with no symptoms) and for an additional 14 days, if symptomatic, or 10 days, if no symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring, following the last day of the COVID-positive individual’s quarantine period.
- May return after Day 7 of the second quarantine period with a negative PCR COVID Test Result. (Note: The test must occur on Day 5 or later second 10-day quarantine period.) As per the DOH, symptom monitoring must continue through Day 14.
- Those individuals, who have NOT been fully vaccinated and who have been exposed to COVID-19 and are identified as a close contact, may:
Note: The amended guidelines (listed above) only apply to those individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 and are identified as close contacts. Those individuals, who test positive for COVID-19, are required to quarantine for a minimum of 10 days, as per DOH guidelines.
Anyone, who develops COVID symptoms, is asked to immediately self-isolate and to contact the DOH for further guidance at (877) PAHEALTH or (877) 724-3258(4). Any parent(s)/guardian(s), whose child tests positive for COVID-19, is encouraged to contact your child’s building principal as soon as possible.
Mars Area School District encourages all of our families to continue to follow all COVID-19 safety protocols including washing and/or sanitizing hands, maintaining social distancing, the proper use of face coverings (masks or shields), and avoiding large gathering, whenever and wherever possible and especially when out and about in the community. Parents/guardians and students, who attend our schools’ spring sporting events, are also reminded that that face coverings and social distancing are required at all times at all indoor and outdoor facilities.
As our District continues to believe that traditional, in-person instruction is the best way to educate our students, it is our hope that these updated quarantine restrictions will enable our students and staff to return to the classroom that much sooner. We remain committed to educating all students as safely as possible, encouraging social distancing, where feasible, and requiring that face coverings (masks or shields) be worn at all times within our schools and facilities. For those parents/guardians and/or students who do not feel comfortable returning to school, our instructional model provides the option for students to participate via Live-Stream Interactive (LSI) Instruction.
We appreciate your patience and support as we work together to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment for our entire school community. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mark Gross, Superintendent
Mars Area School District
Positive COVID Case Scenarios
