The Loveland City School District announced some changes for students returning from winter break Monday.School leaders are notifying students and parents saying the district will follow the new protocol announced last week by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.Students and staff members wearing masks and following other safety measures in class will no longer need to quarantine if in close contact with someone in a classroom setting who tested positive for COVID-19.Previously, those in close contact had to quarantine for at least 10 days.DeWine said after looking at the rate of COVID-19 transmission in schools, preliminary results found that if students in a class and are masked and distanced, they did not have an increased risk of catching the virus from a nearby positive student.Because of the data, the governor is no longer recommending that students who have been exposed to another COVID-19 positive student quarantine — as long as all students have been wearing masks and the exposure took place in a classroom setting.If masking and distancing protocols aren't followed, schools should continue to quarantine the students who have been exposed.The change doesn’t apply to after-school activities, including sports, DeWine said."Ultimately, this is one more step to keep our kids in the classroom — which is where we want them to be," DeWine said.The new quarantine guidance does not apply to close contacts that happen outside of a school setting. Students and staff who may have come into contact with a positive case outside of school must still quarantine.
The Loveland City School District announced some changes for students returning from winter break Monday.
School leaders are notifying students and parents saying the district will follow the new protocol announced last week by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.
Students and staff members wearing masks and following other safety measures in class will no longer need to quarantine if in close contact with someone in a classroom setting who tested positive for COVID-19.
Previously, those in close contact had to quarantine for at least 10 days.
DeWine said after looking at the rate of COVID-19 transmission in schools, preliminary results found that if students in a class and are masked and distanced, they did not have an increased risk of catching the virus from a nearby positive student.
Because of the data, the governor is no longer recommending that students who have been exposed to another COVID-19 positive student quarantine — as long as all students have been wearing masks and the exposure took place in a classroom setting.
If masking and distancing protocols aren't followed, schools should continue to quarantine the students who have been exposed.
The change doesn’t apply to after-school activities, including sports, DeWine said.
"Ultimately, this is one more step to keep our kids in the classroom — which is where we want them to be," DeWine said.
The new quarantine guidance does not apply to close contacts that happen outside of a school setting. Students and staff who may have come into contact with a positive case outside of school must still quarantine.
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