MDHHS updates school guidance on isolation guidelines; encourage universal implementation of masks | WJMN

LANSING, Mich. (WJMN) – Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued quarantine recommendation for schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among school-age children while reducing disruption to face-to-face learning.

MDHHS also recommends vaccinations and the wearing of masks to keep children, staff, and families safe. They say local health departments and schools should work together to isolate COVID-19 cases between students and staff, identify close contacts, and put in place isolation policies to reduce the risk. transmission while still allowing face-to-face learning. MDHHS said that when precautions including vaccinations, wearing masks, and testing are used, students exposed to COVID-19 may not be required to stay at home.

“Schools are likely to be safe when children 5 years of age and older can be vaccinated,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical officer at MDHHS. “We continue to urge all eligible residents to get a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible as this is our best defense against the virus. Masks, distancing, quarantine, and isolation are all complementary strategies to keep our schools and public spaces safe. ”

MDHHS still recommends wearing masks as common in all K-12 school facilities. Quarantine and isolation are determined by local health departments and are also used to prevent the spread of disease. Isolation is necessary when a person has COVID-19 and tests positive even without symptoms. Isolation is used when a person may have been exposed to COVID-19 and has the potential to get sick and spread it. Any individual who is going through symptoms of COVID-19 regardless of immunization status should not attend school and should be tested for COVID-19.

For asymptomatic students who have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 and are Fully vaccinated, no need to quarantine. Those who are not fully vaccinated but still wear a mask when exposed and do not have symptoms can participate in school activities while wearing a mask for 14 days after exposure and using the “Test to stay”. If face coverings are not maintained, additional and mitigation strategies may be employed and the local health department has discretion to allow a contact to participate in school activities.

MDHHS is also providing schools with free antigen testing supplies through MI Safe School Testing Program.