Updated Isolation and Quarantine Guidance

January 7, 2022

Dear Erie 1 BOCES School Family,

The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH), in conjunction with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has recently adopted revised protocols for staff and students who test positive for COVID-19 or who have been identified as a close contact. The full document can be accessed here. Details are below.

How long will my child need to isolate if they test positive for COVID?
Your child will need to isolate for 5 days. Day 0 is the day of symptom onset or (if asymptomatic) the day they took their COVID test. If they are asymptomatic at the end of the 5 days or their symptoms are resolving, isolation ends and they may return to school. However, they will need to still wear a well-fitting mask when around other people for another 5 days. If they cannot tolerate a mask or if they still have symptoms, they will need to stay in isolation for another 5 days. Students who are moderately or severely immunocompromised must continue the standard 10-day isolation practice.

What if my child is identified as a close contact of someone with COVID?
Erie 1 BOCES will continue to notify all students identified as a close contact. Quarantine status will depend upon the vaccination status of your child.

If fully vaccinated:
No quarantine is required. If symptoms appear, they need to quarantine, seek testing and follow the isolation guidance above.

If NOT fully vaccinated:
Starting with the date of your child’s last exposure, they will need to quarantine for 5 days wherein day 0 is the last date of exposure. They will also need to wear a well-fitting mask around other people for 5 more days. If symptoms appear, they should seek testing and follow the isolation guidance above.

Who is considered to be fully vaccinated?
Individuals ages 5-17 who have completed the primary series of COVID vaccine, and individuals ages 18 and older with all recommended vaccine doses, including boosters. (Boosters Needed: Moderna-6 months after primary series; Pfizer-5 months after primary series; J&J-2 months after single series.)

If my child must quarantine because they are identified as a close contact, do they need a negative COVID test to return to school?
No. The NYSDOH suggests that close contacts test at day 5 with an antigen or PCR test. However, as long as your child is symptom free, they do not need a negative COVID test to return.

Update on Test-to-Stay Program
“Test to Stay” involves the testing of asymptomatic, unvaccinated students who have been identified as a close contact based upon a contact in school. Erie 1 BOCES is working to acquire additional Limited Service Laboratory licenses for the purposes of rolling out the program to all of its schools and is awaiting an additional shipment of antigen tests from Erie County. The Erie County Department of Health COVID-19 “Test to Stay” protocols can be accessed here. Additional information from Erie 1 BOCES will be forthcoming.