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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)