COVID-19 Health & Safety Information
- COVID-19 Health & Safety Information
- Communications from the Superintendent
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Archive
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ARCHIVE - 2020-2021 School Year Information
- ARCHIVE - BPS Learning Highlights
- ARCHIVE - BPS Response to COVID-19 - Reflections
- Free Breakfast & Lunch
- ARCHIVE - Health and Safety Protocols
- ARCHIVE - Home Health Checklist
- ARCHIVE - Wear a Mask
- ARCHIVE - Water and Sanitation
- ARCHIVE - Building Readiness Reports
- ARCHIVE - Safe Distancing in Schools
- ARCHIVE - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Overview
- ARCHIVE - 5 Day In-Person Learning FAQs
- ARCHIVE - Important Information from the Boston Public Health Commission
- ARCHIVE - Student COVID Testing
- ARCHIVE - COVID Reporting
- ARCHIVE - BPS COVID-19 Case Report
- ARCHIVE - BPS Dashboard
- ARCHIVE - Timeline of Supplies and Repairs
- ARCHIVE - Fall Reopening Plans
- ARCHIVE - Equity
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ARCHIVE - 2020-2021 School Year Information
Contact Tracing Protocols
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Boston Public Schools has partnered with HealthCareIT Leaders to significantly increase the capacity for contact tracing when we have confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in our schools.
Contact tracing is a multi-step process and the most effective way to contribute to a prompt turnaround is from quick and effective communication. If your child has a positive COVID-19 test reported or is a close contact to a positive individual, you will receive notification via email and/or a phone call from HealthCareIT.
Please respond if you receive a call from 857.214.7468 and/or email from BPScontacttracing@HealthcareITLeaders.com as HealthCareIT Leaders will reach out to you during contact tracing.
Please email Health Services at healthservices@bostonpublicschools.org with any questions.
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How does BPS know when a staff member tests positive for COVID-19?
When a staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they will notify their direct supervisor and the Office of Human Capital (OHC) of their positive test result. Health Services is also notified of the positive test result. The staff member will also need to complete the COVID-19 Reporting form.
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What is a close contact?
For the most up to date information regarding quarantine and isolation guidance, please click here.
According to CDC guidelines, a close contact is defined as being within six feet of a confirmed positive individual for 15 minutes or more for a day (24-hour period). In general, close contacts should follow the testing and quarantine response protocols outlined above.
However, as noted below, certain close contacts are exempted from testing and quarantine response protocols.
- No symptoms: fully vaccinated close contacts: individuals who are asymptomatic and fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine; testing is recommended at least 5 days after exposure if appropriate (if the individual is not within 90 days from a previous positive COVID-19 diagnosis)
- Classroom close contacts: An individual exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual in the classroom while both individuals were masked, spaced at least 3 feet apart, and the close contact is asymptomatic.
- Bus close contacts: Individuals on buses must be masked according to federal requirements. According to Federal guidelines, asymptomatic individuals who are masked on buses when windows are open are not close contacts.
- Close contacts who have had COVID-19 within the past 90 days: an individual who has been previously diagnosed with COVID-19 and then becomes a close contact of someone with COVID-19 is exempt from testing and quarantine response protocols if:
- The exposure occurred within 90 days of the onset of their illness AND
- The exposed individual is recovered and remains without COVID-19 symptoms.
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How will I know if my child is a close contact due to an exposure at school? Who will notify me?
If your child was identified as a close contact due to an exposure at school you will be notified by BPS Contact Tracers (Healthcare IT leaders), or a member of your school community.
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Who notifies the community?
If a member of a school community tests positive for COVID-19 and has been in a BPS building during their infectious period, the school leader will share written communication with the school community impacted.
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My child has a cough, what should I do?
If your child is experiencing any symptoms that may be related to COVID, please notify the school and keep your child at home. Please screen your child for symptoms daily using the BPS Daily Health Screening checklist.