Tuesday, December 21, 2021

COVID Update & Reminders

 Dear MERSD Community,

As you are probably aware, the COVID numbers are on the rise in Essex and Manchester.   The good news is our layered mitigation efforts have been successful at minimizing in-school transmission.  Although our COVID positives have been relatively low compared to other schools in the region, we have experienced an uptick in the number of external student and staff positives and close contacts since Thanksgiving.  

Our priority goal for the year remains maintaining in-person learning and minimizing risk to the health and safety of all in attendance.  Our current plan keeps COVID mitigation efforts in place throughout January.  We will continue to monitor the latest trends and advisories, and alert you should there be any change to our plan. 

To help us meet our goal, I ask for your assistance in continuing to be diligent in using COVID precautions (masking and distancing) when outside of school and to complete the MedBot screener each morning before school. 

We Need Your Help

•       Stay home when sick

•       Please complete MedBot daily – it is our first line of defense for preventing in-school transmission

•       Please utilize best practices for playdates and gatherings when unvaccinated students are in attendance

o   Mask Indoors

o   Maintain Social Distancing (3 feet +when indoors)

o   Wash hands frequently

MERSD Layered Mitigation Plan

  • Current COVID procedures 
  • MERSD/DESE has extended its indoor masking requirement through January 15th.
  • The Manchester Essex Regional School District will be continuing its use of MyMedBot to screen MERSD community members for potential COVID symptoms and exposure each school day. 
    • Each day you will be prompted to complete a very brief survey prior to sending your child(ren) to school. This should take less than a minute. We strongly encourage you to set a routine for yourself. PLEASE complete the app at home at least 30 minutes prior to your child’s school start time.
    • If you do not complete the survey, you will receive a reminder prompt.
    • All parent/caregiver emails on file will be linked to each student account, allowing any parent/caregiver to complete the survey. If the survey has been completed on one device, it will reflect in the app for all family members.
    • If you have multiple children to report, they will all be linked in your account and will display together on your conclusion window.
    • If you are told to stay home, please contact your school nurse by phone for further instructions. 

·       Test and stay allows students who have had close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 while at school to stay in school if the student is not showing symptoms.

“Test and Stay” to Remain in School

§  Duration: 7 days

§  Test: rapid test daily on school days. Remain in school provided student tests negative and remains asymptomatic

§  Weekend Testing: Only test on weekends if participating in an extracurricular school activity

§  Quarantine when outside of school setting

§  Monitor for Symptoms: through day 14

  • This year positive cases are reported through our COVID Dashboard.  The data is officially updated on Wednesdays in preparation for the filing of our state report.  As always if you have been identified as a close contact, the nurse will reach out to you individually, and quarantined students will be contacted by the school regarding procedures for managing work while absent. In the event we should have a spike in the number of positive cases that impact a classroom or team, I will send a notice to the MERSD community. Quarantined students will be contacted by the school regarding procedures for managing work while absent.

In addition to mitigation efforts, vaccination is a critical component of our safety plan.  I ask that you please vaccinate yourself and your eligible children to help us keep our staff and students safe at school.  Don’t forget your boosters if eligible.

 Thank you for your cooperation and have an enjoyable and safe holiday break.  

Sincerely,

Cyndi Aldrich, Nicole Grasso-Correnti & Joanne Seaman

MERSD Nursing Team

Pamela Beaudoin
Superintendent



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