Updated Guidance Following Mask Mandate Lift

March 3, 2022

Following the decision of Governor Hochul to lift the mask mandate for staff and students in schools, the NYSDOH has issued additional guidance that impacts certain school protocols. Key changes to Erie 1 BOCES existing COVID protocol are outlined below:

Masking
Students and staff are no longer required to wear masks in school settings. The only exception is for individuals who test positive for COVID. If they return to school after 5 days of isolation, they must wear a mask on days 6 through 10.

Any students or staff who choose to wear a mask for personal reasons should feel supported and respected in doing so. Masks will continue to be available for anyone who wants one and Erie 1 BOCES is committed to ensuring that our classrooms continue to be places where students and staff experience care and belonging.

COVID-19 Symptoms in Staff and Students 
To return to school/work after experiencing symptoms, a negative test result must be provided, or the individual must remain out of school/work for 5 days from the onset of symptoms. At this time, Erie 1 BOCES is only accepting lab-confirmed tests (Antigen or PCR). At-Home test results are not acceptable for symptomatic individuals.

If a symptomatic individual chooses not to test, they may return after day 5 if their symptoms are improving and they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of medication. But, these individuals must wear a mask when at school/work during days 6 through 10 following the onset of symptoms.

Returning to School Following COVID Isolation Due to COVID-19 Infection
Individuals who tested positive for COVID must wear a mask through the 10th day following the date of their initial isolation. Additionally, individuals may only return to school following isolation if their symptoms are improving and they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of medication.

Contact Tracing and Quarantine
Erie 1 BOCES will continue to notify all affected families and staff of an exposure to an individual infected with COVID-19 in school. In the absence of masking, determination of a close contact has gone from 3 feet to 6 feet distance from a positive case.

Asymptomatic individuals, regardless of vaccination status, who were exposed to someone with COVID-19 are no longer required to quarantine and be excluded from school. As a result, Erie 1 BOCES will be discontinuing its Test to Stay program (TTS).

However, individuals who were exposed to someone with COVID-19 are strongly encouraged to mask for 10 days following exposure. Additionally, exposed individuals should consider testing immediately following the exposure and at least 5 days after the exposure. Erie 1 BOCES will make at-home COVID tests available to staff and students for this purpose.

Surveillance Testing of Students and Staff
Erie 1 BOCES will continue to offer voluntary surveillance testing to any interested students and staff on a weekly basis in geographic areas identified by the CDC as having moderate, substantial or high transmission rates. 

Additional Safety Precautions and Reporting
Erie 1 BOCES will continue to optimize other mitigation strategies such as improved ventilation, encouraged vaccination, staying home when ill, physical distancing to the extent possible, hand hygiene, and cough/sneeze etiquette. Additionally, Erie 1 BOCES will remain current with reporting all COVID-19 tests results it conducts or becomes aware of, including the results of at-home tests on the NYS COVID Report Card.