covid banner

DPS COVID Guidelines: September 1, 2022

  • Dedham Public Schools will be following the outline guidance provided by the CDC, Mass Dept of Public Health and DESE for the 2022-23 school year.    

    In summary: 

    • NO Masks will be required for students or staff  - except in school nurse offices, or upon return after a positive COVID test Days 6-10. 
    • NO Pooled testing will be conducted.
    • NO Quarantine is required or recommended for children (or staff), regardless of vaccination status or location where individual was exposed.
    • Dedham will continue to encourage and support those staff and students who choose to wear masks.
    • All positive COVID-19 tests conducted by school staff at school must be reported to MA DPH
    • If a student or staff member exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 during the course of the school day, they will be referred to the Nurse's office. 
      • WITH CONSENT FORM:  The school nurse will conduct a BinaxNOW or iHealth test to check for COVID.
      • WITHOUT CONSENT FORM:  The school nurse will call the parent or guardian on file to pick up the student - OR - to immediately complete the consent for testing.

    Students or staff who present with COVID symptoms during the school day - and who DO NOT have a new 2022 consent on file with the school nurse - will be sent home.

    INDIVIDUALS WHO TEST POSITIVE: 

    • Individuals who test positive must isolate for at least 5 days.
    • Return to school after Day 5 if: asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and the individual is fever free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication).

    If ABLE to mask: Must do so through Day 6 - 10

    • If individual has a negative test on Day 5 or later, they do not need to mask.
    •  
    • If UNABLE to mask after testing positive for Covid ; you MUST stay home for a full 10 days. Unless documentation is provided of a negative test after day 5.

     

  • Please keep your child home if s/he/they are sick!

    • Fever (100.0 Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills
    • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
    • New loss of taste or smell
    • Muscle aches or body aches
    • Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
    <When In Combination With Other Symptoms>
    • Sore throat
    • Nausea, vomiting
    • Headache
    • Fatigue
    • Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies)