The new guidelines released on March 8, 2022, provide significant flexibility for schools in the District to choose what policies work best for them, including whether or not to require indoor masks, depending on the community level of Covid-19 transmission. We have had discussions with other schools to align policies and protocols where possible to ease the burden on families with multiple children in different schools while also doing what is best for the Mundo Verde community. We plan to have a phased approach to changes to Covid-19 protocols and will continue to emphasize layered safety protocols.
In addition to the update from March 4 (click here), the following additional modifications to our protocols are taking effect immediately. We will continue to announce additional changes, including decisions regarding indoor masking, in phases over the next several weeks as appropriate.
Test To Stay for PreK and Staff Eligibility Regardless of Masks: Any identified staff, PreK3 or PreK4 close contact from a school exposure or a community exposure, regardless if masks are worn, are eligible to participate in the test to stay program. Participants in test to stay are required to wear masks, get rapid tested twice during their participation in TTS, remain symptom free, and cannot participate in extra activities, such as extended day programs. Full details on TTS protocols can be found on our health and safety routines. (This updates from the previous requirement that test-to-stay could only be implemented in situations where masks were being worn).
Quarantine for K-5th Close Contacts Reduced to 5 Days Return on Day 6: Close contacts who meet criteria to quarantine must not attend school and should quarantine for 5 days.
Five-day quarantine is permissible only if the close contact is tested for Covid-19 on day 5 of the quarantine period, and receives a negative test result, either via rapid antigen or PCR. (The earliest return to school date in this scenario would be Day 6). (This updates from the previous requirement that close contacts could not return until Day 8 with a negative test).
If the individual is not tested, they must not attend school for 10 days.
The student’s parent/guardian must report the negative test result to DC Health and must show the negative test result to the school. We will follow DC Department of Health and OSSE guidelines found here.
Quarantine for COVID-19 Positive Individuals Reduced: Covid-19 positive individuals can reduce isolation to 5 days to return on day 6 if asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic IF a negative rapid test or PCR test done on day 5, symptoms have improved and fever free for 24 hours without medication.
If no test is done, they have severe symptoms, or are immunocompromised, they must quarantine 10 days to return on day 11 from onset of symptoms or positive test. We will follow DC Department of Health and OSSE guidelines found here. (This updates from the previous requirement of a ten day isolation period for all Covid-19 positive individuals).
Masks are optional during outside time only effective March 15, 2022 (announced March 4)
Field work during the spring! (announced March 4)
Increased visitors into the building (announced March 4)
We will continue to use multiple mitigation strategies for safety and will reverse some or all of these updated protocols if we go back to medium or high community transmission. We are working on a comprehensive plan showing what each level’s protocols will look like. We appreciate your patience as we continue to evaluate our procedures with the best interest of our entire community in mind.