TA News

The following update from the TA Health Office was sent via email to all parents on November 18.

Guide for staying home and returning to school:

1. Your child must stay home if they have any of these symptoms: fever, cough, congestion, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, change in taste/smell.

2. If these symptoms last less than 24 hours they DO NOT need a Covid PCR test, but they must be symptom FREE for 24 hours before returning to school. This usually means your child is out for 2 school days.

3. If your child has any of these symptoms for more than 24 hours they must have a negative Covid PCR test AND be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school.

Stomach bug this week:

TA has a stomach bug going around. Please keep students home with any nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Encourage good handwashing and no sharing of food or beverage.

TA adding 2 new Covid testing options:

1. Test to Stay in School: If your student is NOT vaccinated and they are exposed to a Covid positive individual, they can do a rapid Covid test for 7 days in a row and remain in school. The following guidelines apply to the ‘Test to Stay’ option:

• They cannot have ANY symptoms: no fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea nor change in taste/smell.
• Each morning before school they will report to Nurse Ellen for a rapid test which will take 30-40 minutes. You need to be able to take your child home if they test positive.
• Nurse Ellen will reach out to you if your child is eligible for this option.

2. Soon, Covid PCR tests will also be available to pick-up from the Health Office. The test can be done at home in the evening, brought back to the Health Office by 9:30 AM the next morning, and is then sent to the lab via UPS.

If you are interested in having your student have either of these options, a parent/guardian must complete a consent form. Here is the link for the consent.

Ellen Gnaedinger, School Nurse

[email protected]