Melrose Schools Changing Some COVID-19 Protocols

MELROSE, MA — The school district is changing some of its COVID-19 protocols, including adjusting the state's controversial new quarantine and self-isolation guidelines.

The district adjusted two of the protocols issued by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education:

• For those who test positive for COVID-19: Self-isolation is doubled from five to 10 days after symptom onset or a positive test if asymptomatic. Students can still return to school after five days if they have been without fever for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication and test negative with an antigen test at school, but a positive test between Day 5-10 will keep students out until Day 11. (DESE doesn't require testing to return.)
• For those who are symptomatic: Students can return to school if their symptoms have resolved (not just improve,) have received a negative PCR test (not just an antigen test) and have been without fever for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. In sticking with DESE guidance, people who are symptomatic who are not close contacts and choose not to receive a COVID test can return to school after at least five days, if they show an improvement in symptoms and have been without fever for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.

Those changes will go into effect in Melrose Public Schools on Jan. 18. They break from what was issued by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which over winter break blindsided districts with updated guidance shortening and easing off some quarantine and return-to-school measures.

The district will likely use the city's American Rescue Plan Act funds to buy antigen tests to test positive students attempting to return after five days, because that usage does not meet the expectations of what the DESE-issued antigen tests should be used for.

"I haven't been pretty impressed with the state in terms of how they view what we're dealing as a school district, not just in Melrose but elsewhere in the Commonwealth," School Member Ed O'Connell said. "So, as one member, I don't want you to be too closely married, quite frankly, with the state with some of this."

School Committee Chair Jen McAndrew agreed.

"We are in a situation where we, I feel, are doing the right thing exceeding these guidelines that are worrisome in some cases," McAndrew said.

Also in Melrose schools, effective March 1, the definition of fully vaccinated will change to include only those who have received a booster shot, received two doses of Pfizer or Moderna in the past six months or received a Johnson & Johnson shot in the past two months.

O'Connell posed the obvious question.

"Why the wait until March 1?" he asked. "You're asking us to adopt some changes, they seem sensible, they seem needed. Why not right away?"

Chui said the hope is to allow people as much opportunity as possible to get boosted, especially the age 12-15 group that was recently given the go-ahead.

Another change is contact tracing, which did not require a School Committee vote. Contact tracing in schools will be at nurses' discretion as far as what cases will be traced, prioritizing classes with multiple cases and immunocompromised students.

Superintendent Julie Kukenberger said she will be notifying families of the changes.

Mike Carraggi can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi and Instagram at Melrose Happening. Subscribe to Melrose Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook.