Baltimore City Public Schools on Friday announced updates to its COVID-19 protocols.|| COVID-19 updates | Maryland’s latest numbers | Get tested | Vaccine Info ||The district said continued updates will come based on guidance from health experts and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Holiday at-home testingBefore the Thanksgiving and winter breaks, the district plans to provide COVID-19 test kits to every student and staff member, who will be directed to take the tests one to two days before returning to school. Any positive results should be reported to the district’s contact tracing team by calling 443-984-1200 or e-mailing contacttracing@bcps.k12.md.us.School-based COVID-19 screening testingStarting Jan. 3, 2023, the district will no longer conduct screening testing in schools every other week based on updated guidance from health officials and the CDC.Schools will continue to test students who show COVID-19 symptoms and provide take-home tests to students, staff and families as needed.Notification of positive casesStarting Jan. 3, 2023, schools will no longer notify families about individual cases. Any cases will continue to be reported on the district’s COVID-19 dashboard. An impacted classroom or school will be notified of an outbreak of three or more linked cases.Face masksFace masks will continue to be optional in school buildings and on school grounds, but are required the following circumstances:Known close contacts for 10 days after exposureThose recovering from COVID for 10 days from the start of isolationSomeone who develops COVID-like symptoms while at schoolIsolationIndividuals who test positive must continue to isolate for at least five days, with day 0 being the day of the positive test.ReportingAnyone who has a positive case is asked to report it to their school and call the contact tracing team at 443-984-1200 or e-mail contacttracing@bcps.k12.md.us.
Baltimore City Public Schools on Friday announced updates to its COVID-19 protocols.
|| COVID-19 updates | Maryland’s latest numbers | Get tested | Vaccine Info ||
The district said continued updates will come based on guidance from health experts and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Holiday at-home testing
Before the Thanksgiving and winter breaks, the district plans to provide COVID-19 test kits to every student and staff member, who will be directed to take the tests one to two days before returning to school. Any positive results should be reported to the district’s contact tracing team by calling 443-984-1200 or e-mailing contacttracing@bcps.k12.md.us.
School-based COVID-19 screening testing
Starting Jan. 3, 2023, the district will no longer conduct screening testing in schools every other week based on updated guidance from health officials and the CDC.
Schools will continue to test students who show COVID-19 symptoms and provide take-home tests to students, staff and families as needed.
Notification of positive cases
Starting Jan. 3, 2023, schools will no longer notify families about individual cases. Any cases will continue to be reported on the district’s COVID-19 dashboard. An impacted classroom or school will be notified of an outbreak of three or more linked cases.
Face masks
Face masks will continue to be optional in school buildings and on school grounds, but are required the following circumstances:
- Known close contacts for 10 days after exposure
- Those recovering from COVID for 10 days from the start of isolation
- Someone who develops COVID-like symptoms while at school
Isolation
Individuals who test positive must continue to isolate for at least five days, with day 0 being the day of the positive test.
Reporting
Anyone who has a positive case is asked to report it to their school and call the contact tracing team at 443-984-1200 or e-mail contacttracing@bcps.k12.md.us.
Read More: COVID-19 protocols updated at Baltimore City schools