Quarantine Shortened For Some Anne Arundel County Students, Staff

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Anne Arundel County Public Schools on Monday shortened its quarantine requirements for some students and staff who were exposed to coronavirus. Exposed patients can return to school buildings on what would have been day eight of their quarantine if they get a negative test and don't have any symptoms.

How Can I Test Out Of Quarantine?

The test must be administered between days five and seven of quarantine. The swab cannot be a home rapid test. Students and staff must show this negative result to come back early.

Anybody who tests out of quarantine must monitor their symptoms through day 14 while also following masking and distancing guidelines. If they develop symptoms, they should immediately isolate and call a doctor to determine if they need to get retested.

These rules apply to everybody who is currently in quarantine and anybody who may enter it in the future.

Who Can't Test Out Of Quarantine?

Exposed people may not test out of quarantine if they are unable to isolate themselves from the positive patient that they were in close contact with. An example of this would be a student who lives in the same home as a positive patient. These exposed subjects cannot begin their quarantine until the positive person finishes their 10-day isolation.

Anybody who tests positive for COVID-19 must isolate for the full period. They may not return early, even if they get a negative test.

Those who can't wear face coverings, like young children or people with certain disabilities, may not test out of their quarantine. They must quarantine for 14 days.

Who Is A Close Contact?

A close contact is somebody who has been within 6 feet of the COVID-positive person for 15 total minutes during a 24-hour window. These 15 minutes do not have to be consecutive. They can come from multiple short exposures.

Classrooms have special exceptions. Masked students must be within 3 feet of the positive person to be considered close contacts.

This does not apply to adults, however, because they are more susceptible to the virus. Adults are close contacts if they have been within 6 feet of the COVID-positive person for 15 total minutes during a 24-hour window, regardless of if the exposure came in a classroom.

When Do Close Contacts Need To Quarantine?

Close contacts must quarantine if they have not been fully vaccinated or if they have not had coronavirus in the 90 days before their exposure.

When Don't Close Contacts Need To Quarantine?

Close contacts don't need to quarantine if they:

• Have been completely immunized for more than 14 days
• Had coronavirus within the 90 days before their exposure and currently show no symptoms

Close contacts who don't need to quarantine should wear a mask indoors and get tested three to five days after their exposure, AACPS suggested. They can remove their masks, except where required, after the test comes back negative or when 14 days pass. The school system requires proof of inoculation for these terms to apply.

How Can I Track Outbreaks?

AACPS posts its coronavirus metrics by school at this link. As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, 1,365 students and 24 employees were in quarantine. Active coronavirus infections include 161 students and 16 staff members.

Are Masks Still Required?

The school system still requires all students and staff to wear face coverings inside regardless of their vaccination statuses.

Where Can I Learn More?

Families can read all of the contact tracing policies here.

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