MA Education Board Drops Most COVID-19 Protocol Recommendations

BOSTON, MA — Many staples of school life for the past two years amid the COVID-19 health crisis are no longer recommended in Massachusetts under the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's updated guidelines released on Monday.

Saying that districts should "focus their COVID mitigation strategies towards vulnerable and symptomatic individuals" the state Board of Education said it is not recommending universal mask requirements, surveillance testing of asymptomatic individuals, contact tracing or test-to-stay in schools for the upcoming academic year.

The only indoor masking requirement remains inside school health offices.

The state also noted that its statewide testing program concluded in the spring and that districts would be responsible for costs and acquisition of tests for any programs they choose to continue this year. Districts will be provided information on how they can purchase face masks and testing kits "if they choose to do so to address local needs."

"Any individual who wishes to continue to mask, including those who face higher risk from COVID-19, should be supported in that choice," the state guidelines said.

The state eliminated the requirement that exposed students should quarantine unless they are experiencing symptoms.

"No asymptomatic person should be excluded from school as a result of exposure, regardless of vaccination status or exposure setting," the state said.

Symptomatic individuals can remain in their school or program if they have mild symptoms, are tested immediately onsite, and that test is negative. Best practice would also include wearing a mask, if possible, until symptoms are fully resolved.

For symptomatic individuals, the Department of Public Health recommends a second test within 48 hours if the initial test is negative.

Students who do test positive for COVID-19 should isolate for five days. On the sixth day they can return to programs with a negative test, but it is recommended that they continue to mask through 10 days.

If the student is unable to mask, they may return to programming with a negative test on Day 5 or later.

The state also said districts should "assess their ventilation systems and ensure they are working properly" and also "conduct routine maintenance" and "consider adding air purifiers."

There is no recommendation for holding classes, lunch periods or organized athletics and other high-respiration activities outdoors, only that districts should open windows in classrooms "as feasible" and open windows on school buses "as feasible."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)