The Newburyport Public Schools (NPS) continues to align with COVID 19 related recommendations and guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), and CDC. Note that there has been no change in COVID guidance for the 2023-2034 school year.

COVID Basics (Fall 2022 Updated DESE/DPH Protocols) 

1. COVID Exposure: Quarantine no longer required, regardless of vaccination status
   1. May return to work or school if asymptomatic
   2. Those who can mask should do so for 10 days
   3. Monitor for symptoms. If symptomatic, follow guidance for symptomatic individuals (see below).
   4. Suggested to test on day 6 after exposure. If positive follow guidance for someone who tests positive (see below).
2. Test Positive for COVID
   1. Isolate for 5 days (day zero is day your symptoms develop or date of positive test, whichever is earlier)
   2. If asymptomatic or symptoms resolving, and fever free without use of fever reducing medication for 24 hours, may return to work/school on day 6.
   3. Masking
      1. If individual is able to, mask through day 10
      2. Negative mask after day 5, may opt out of wearing mask.
3. Symptomatic Individual
   1. May remain in school if symptoms mild, and tested immediately onsite, and that test is negative. Best practice would also include wearing a mask, if possible, until symptoms resolved. For symptomatic individuals, DPH recommends a second test within 48 hours of first test.
   2. If symptomatic individual cannot be tested at school, they should be sent home and allowed to return if symptoms mild and they test negative, or they have been fever free for 24 hours with the use of fever reducing medication and their symptoms are resolving, or if a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis. A negative test is strongly recommended for return.
4. COVID Symptoms for Child Care, K-12, Out of School Time, and Recreational Programs

   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)

   Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms Nausea, vomiting, when in combination with other symptoms Headache, when in combination with other symptoms Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies), when in combination with other symptoms

The Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has provided the linked letters promoting COVID vaccination for all individuals older than 6 months of age, as well as flu vaccine which may be administered at the time of the COVID vaccine: MA DPH AAP letter 12-22-2023. For additional languages click here.