Screen and Stay Guidance

What is it?
Screen and Stay is a narrow exception to the quarantine requirement that can be applied to some students in grades K through 12+ and staff who are identified as close contacts from an in-school exposure under certain conditions.
Screen and Stay allows students to participate in in-person learning, but not in aerosol-generating activities such as PE or chorus or wind instrument playing.
Students in
Screen and Stay will need to observe the usual quarantine period for school-sponsored sports/extracurriculars and all other non-school activities. 

Who is eligible?
An unvaccinated or partially vaccinated student in grade K-12 or staff member who is identified as a close contact* of a COVID-19 case AND

  • The only contact (exposure) was during the school day (not school-sponsored sports/extracurriculars, not outside school)

  • If the exposure was indoors or on school transportation, both the close contact and the case were masked

  • If the exposure was outdoors, it occurred during a staff-monitored activity during a school period (e.g. PE, recess)

  • The close contact remains asymptomatic

*Definition of close contact: Someone who has been exposed to a COVID-19 case with less than 6 feet of distance for a total of 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour period. In classroom situations only, the distance required is reduced to less than 3 feet.

Examples of situations where a close contact is NOT eligible for Screen and Stay

  • Close contact with a COVID-19 case during interscholastic or other athletic activities except PE class

  • Close contact with a COVID-19 case during social interactions, youth sports, or other similar activities outside of school

  • Close contact with a COVID-19 case where the close contact and case were not consistently and correctly wearing masks and 6 feet of distance was not maintained

  • Household contacts

  • Close contact cannot consistently and correctly wear a mask and cannot be provided with appropriate alternative protective strategies

  • Close contact cannot perform daily symptom screening

  • Close contact is a student in a pre-K program or day care. Please see the CT Office of Early Childhood's COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions for more information (here).

Parent/Guardian Requirements for Screen and Stay

  • Review the Screen and Stay information provided by the Connecticut State Department of Education (click here)

  • Ensure the child observes the usual quarantine in all non-school situations

  • Perform a daily symptom assessment before the child goes to school. 

  • Keep child in quarantine at home and contact school if the child experiences any of the symptoms listed below at any time during the Screen and Stay monitoring period:

    • Fever (100.4 or higher) 

    • Chills

    • Frequent coughing

    • Trouble breathing

    • Unusually tired

    • Muscle or body aches

    • Headache

    • Trouble tasting or smelling

    • Sore throat

    • Stuffy or runny nose

    • Nausea or vomiting

    • Diarrhea

Process for Participating in Screen and Stay
ONLY ELIGIBLE STUDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE.
If a parent/guardian is notified that their child is a close contact and eligible to participate in
Screen and Stay, the parent/guardian should

  • Confirm their child’s unvaccinated or partially vaccinated status

  • Tell the contact tracer that they want their child to participate

  • Expect an email from screenandstay@branfordschools.org with a link to the required Screen and Stay Affirmation Form

  • Complete the Screen and Stay Affirmation Form

  • Expect a confirmation email from bpsmessage-noreply@branfordct.mg.infinitecampus.org confirming their child’s participation.

  • Monitor their child for symptoms on a daily basis for 14 days after exposure.

  • Only after receiving the confirmation email, send their child to school, provided that their child remains symptom-free.

State Guidelines for Screen and Stay (click here)
BPS Board of Education Presentation on Screen and Stay (click
here)