Dear Avon Families,
NYS issued updated guidance for students late on Monday. We had a chance to meet as Livingston County schools with the LCDOH to begin clarifying the expectations. We want to get the most important information to you ASAP. As has been the case in the past, we may need to further clarify when additional details are further explained.
Updates from NYSDOH and LCDOH-
LCDOH supports a layered mitigation approach that emphasizes prevention to the extent possible through masking, distancing, sanitation, and vaccination. Further, properly managing testing and positive cases should be the priority. Although still a recommended practice in the community and expected within schools, decreased emphasis is being paid to contact tracing. Based on the numbers associated with the recent surge, increased priority should be paid to preventative strategies and the management of positive cases.
Effective immediately, students will serve a 5-day isolation period where Day 0 is the test date or symptom onset. On Day 6, asymptomatic students may return. Students are not able to return if symptoms persist. Therefore, students who began isolation on or before 1/6/22 may return if asymptomatic. Again, if symptoms persist, students are to remain in isolation.
Close Contacts- (See above re: contact tracing)
Vaccinated close contacts do not need to enter a quarantine if asymptomatic.
Unvaccinated contacts who are asymptomatic should quarantine for 5 days OR engage in Test to Stay with tests taken at least on Day 3 and Day 5. This is a significant change in guidance.
COVID Updates - Here are the COVID cases that have been reported so far this week:
1 Case in the Elementary School
2 Cases in the Middle School
9 Cases in the High School
2 staff members
Please note: individuals who are under isolation orders from the DOH need to forward the email with their release documentation to the HS/MS nurse in order to return to school .
ACS Diagnostic COVID Testing -
As a reminder, testing is available as a diagnostic/response test. If you or your child would like a rapid shallow nasal-swab diagnostic COVID test, please send an email to covid.testing@avoncsd.org. You will then receive a Google form to choose a time to be tested along with the consent form and intake form that will need to be completed prior to the test. If you have any questions please contact Michelle Burke at mburke@avoncsd.org.
Test results take approximately 15 minutes. You will be notified in the event of a positive only.
Please do not 'walk in' for a COVID Test. Tests can be scheduled quickly with a simple email.
Testing Schedule beginning Monday, January 10, 2022: Mondays and Thursdays, 8am-3pm
County COVID Information -
The above changes will have a huge impact on the regional data. Further, LCDOH is experiencing some staff shortages actually due to COVID. The data below is based on information known before the recent updates. You will likely see a big change in the data in the coming days.
