NYSDOH supports “Test To Stay” (TTS) as a strategy that allows asymptomatic, unvaccinated, school based close contacts (e.g. students, teachers, school staff) to avoid school exclusion (but not other restrictions of quarantine) by testing negative through serial testing using rapid NAAT or antigen tests during a seven-day period following exposure. The Orange County Department of Health has now allowed TTS to be used in the county and the Valley Central School District has decided that TTS will be implemented in the District. This will begin starting Tuesday, January 4, 2022
Valley Central School District’s TTS policy
- The exposure must have occurred in the school setting and while both the person with COVID-19 (index patient) and exposed person were consistently and properly masked.
- The exposed person must remain asymptomatic. If the exposed person who is allowed to remain in school through TTS develops symptoms, they will be immediately excluded from school per current school guidance.
- The exposed person will be tested a minimum of three times during the seven-day period following exposure, unless recognition of the exposure is delayed or weekends or school breaks intervene. See possible testing regimens below.
- The seven-day period is measured in calendar days, where the last date of exposure is considered day 0. The first test should be done as soon as possible after exposure is identified (i.e., the first day the student is in school after identified exposure). Therefore, possible testing regimens may include:
Minimum Testing Cadences
Day of First Test- 0 / Day of Second Test- 2 or 3/ Day of Third Test- 5,6 or 7
Day of First Test- 1 / Day of Second Test- 3/ Day of Third Test- 5,6 or 7
Day of First Test- 2 / Day of Second Test- 4/ Day of Third Test- 5,6 or 7
Day of First Test- 3 / Day of Second Test-5,6 or 7 / Day of Third Test- N/A
Day of First Test- 4 / Day of Second Test-5,6 or 7 / Day of Third Test- N/A
Day of First Test- 5 / Day of Second Test-6 or 7 / Day of Third Test- N/A
Day of First Test- 6 / Day of Second Test-N/A / Day of Third Test- N/A
Day of First Test- 7/ Day of Second Test-N/A / Day of Third Test- N/A
This table is intended to be a guide. Adjustments will be made to account for weekends and other non-school days, in which case a test will be conducted on the first school day back and continue thereafter according to the above. Valley Central also has the option of conducting an additional test at its discretion (e.g. testing on day 7 if the previous test was conducted on day 5, or testing at days 0, 2, 4, and 6).
- The District’s plan considers equity. Families will not have to pay for testing.
- The District will follow-up on transmission (e.g., contact tracing) in the event that an individual tests positive.
- The test will be conducted-and the results received-before the school day begins, and positive individuals will be excluded/isolated per existing procedures.
- Upon arrival at school, students will report to the nurse’s office
- Students will be given a rapid NAAT or antigen diagnostic test by the school nurse
- Students will be released to their classroom after a negative test result
- The exposed person who is allowed to remain in school through TTS will be quarantined outside of school instruction/academic periods (on weekends/holidays when the seven-day TTS period is still active, but no school test is required; after school/evenings; and for community activities or extracurricular participation including clubs, sports, arts/performance activities, etc.).
- The testing program is subject to the availability of tests and other needs and priorities regarding their utilization. All the above are subject to change based on local conditions and positivity rates in the county and our school district communities. We will be in communication with the Orange County Department of Health throughout the process.
The Governor has stressed the importance of keeping students in school. Therefore the Valley Central School District will make every effort to do so in a safe and effective manner.
Link to Electronic Consent Form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/
PDF Consent Form for Rapid COVID 19 Testing for Unvaccinated Individuals