The River Valley School District says it has reviewed covid-19 data since the start of the school year, and it has led to a loosening of quarantine requirements.
Superintendent Philip Martell says the data makes clear that quarantining students has a negative impact on their learning, as “very few” who have quarantined from close contacts in school have tested positive for the virus. Effective yesterday, the new district policy is that if a child is exposed at school and they are symptom-free, quarantining will be a voluntary choice for their parents. He cautions that if symptoms develop in the ten days following exposure, the student should quarantine.
Martell points out that the policy is for a student exposed at school. If the exposure occurs in the household, unvaccinated students must quarantine regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. That’s because the state Health Department says household exposure has a much higher likelihood of becoming a positive case than school-related exposure.
You can read Martell’s statement at the district website, rivervalleysd.org.












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