Our school district has applied to participate in the Test to Stay Program through the Washington Department of Health (DOH) to help reduce the number of days students who are identified as COVID-19 close contacts at school must quarantine.
The Test to Stay program is a voluntary, parent consent COVID-19 testing program designed for students who are unvaccinated and identified as a close contact of an individual at a school or school-related event who tests positive for COVID-19. This program is not available to students who are exposed at home or during non-school events or gatherings.
Previously, unvaccinated students who were designated as close contacts were required to quarantine at home for up to 10 days. The goal of the program is to allow unvaccinated students who are identified as close contacts at school or school-sponsored events to remain in school as long as they are symptom-free and test negative for COVID-19.
A close contact is defined by the DOH as an individual who has spent 15 or more minutes over a 24-hour period within 6 feet of the confirmed case, or within 3 feet in a K-12 indoor/outdoor classroom setting. Each confirmed case in Marysville Schools is contact traced and families are notified if their student is determined to be a close contact.
How the Test to Stay Program Works
1. The school notifies you that your child is a close contact with a known positive COVID-19 case while in school.
Not available to those who were exposed at home or during non-school events
2. Parent/guardian completes consent and registration forms giving permission for COVID-19 testing for their child and agreeing to follow the Test to Stay requirements.
Students must still quarantine outside of school and cannot participate in extracurricular activities or after-school activities or social gatherings. This is considered a modified quarantine.
3. COVID-19 testing may occur at the district’s COVID Testing Site, a school, or through a health care provider.
Outside tests are only accepted if supervised by healthcare personnel. Tests conducted at home by the parent, guardian or individual are not accepted.
4. Follow the DOH Test to Stay protocol – test twice within a 7-day period.
If testing isn’t conducted per this schedule, students must follow standard quarantine guidance.
Testing is recommended immediately after being identified (following consent from parent or guardian) and again 5-7 days after last exposure.
5. If COVID-19 test results are:
Positive: Student must immediately isolate at home
Negative: Student may continue to attend school as long as they do not have symptoms and have not had a fever within the past 24 hours.
This testing program, combined with disease prevention strategies, can help our schools detect new cases to prevent outbreaks, reduce the risk of further transmission, and protect students, teachers, and other staff from COVID-19.
The program will be implemented beginning January 18, 2022. Stay tuned for more information including an agreement/consent form and a FAQ on the program.