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Gov. Ned Lamont announced the rollout of the “Screen and Stay” initiative for Connecticut schools that choose to participate in the program.
Under the new initiative, students and staff identified as close contacts to a known COVID-19 case but who are not yet fully vaccinated will be able to remain in school if they were wearing masks and don’t develop symptoms.
Lamont said that “the initiative will bring immediate relief to the frequent and repeated quarantines that continue to impact student learning and place a burden on working families.”
The new rules will be in effect for school districts through the remainder of the fall.
“Throughout this pandemic, we’ve consistently done our best to maintain a safe learning environment for all students and staff, while also understanding that students achieve the greatest outcomes when they have access to in-person learning,” Lamont said in announcing the new guidance.
“The recent approval of the COVID-19 vaccines for children between the ages of 5 and 11 marks an incredibly promising development in these ongoing efforts,” he continued.
“While that rollout occurs, the Screen and Stay initiative will help ensure that more students can remain in school and we can provide a safe, in-person learning environment.”
Students and staff are eligible to participate if the close contact with a positive COVID-19 case happens under these circumstances:
- Exclusively during the school day (no extracurricular or social contact);
- If indoors or on a school bus or other school transportation, and both the contact and the COVID-19 case were consistently masked during the exposure even if brief unmasked periods such as snack time or the cafeteria occurred, as long as six feet or more of space was consistently maintained;
- If outdoors, the individuals were masked or unmasked but were supervised by staff such as mask breaks, physical education, or recess;
- The close contact remains asymptomatic (any symptoms revert to regular isolation/quarantine).
“Vaccination remains the easiest way to avoid quarantine from school after being exposed to someone with COVID-19,” Connecticut Public Health Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani said.
“Our youngest school-age children finally have this opportunity, as well. However, because Connecticut’s community case-rate is stable-to-decreasing, this innovative program can protect students and staff in schools while also prioritizing their social and emotional well-being.”
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