MSD launches “Test to Stay” program
The Oregon Health Authority has released new guidance intended to allow unvaccinated students and staff to stay in school during a quarantine period under certain conditions. The McMinnville School District will implement this new practice effective immediately.
“Test to Stay” is a protocol that allows your child to attend school after an in-school exposure. It allows unvaccinated students and staff to continue attending school if:
- They remain symptom-free post-exposure AND
- They test negative by a COVID test taken at school immediately after exposure, and again on day 5 after exposure.
Only school-based exposures are eligible for the “Test to Stay” program.
Students and staff participating in test to stay may continue with school-related extracurricular activities during this period, but must mask at all times during extracurricular activities.
Who Should Be Tested?
Test to stay is for unvaccinated students with parental consent or staff when they:
- Are determined to be exposed to a COVID-19 positive case in a school setting (including a school bus) AND
- Are free of any COVID-19 symptoms
Families who do not give consent for testing must quarantine at home.
What about those who are vaccinated?
OHA and CDC guidance states that people who are up to date with their vaccinations* and do not have COVID-19 symptoms do not need to quarantine after an exposure.
When will testing take place?
Unvaccinated students or staff are tested twice in 5 days:
- As soon as the exposure has been identified
- With a second test occurring on the 5th day after exposure.
Test Results
If they test negative and do not have symptoms of COVID-19,
- Students or staff may continue in-person learning
If they test positive,
- Students must stay home for five (5) days, avoiding contact with others to the fullest extent possible.
- Students can return to school on day six (6) if they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and their other symptoms have improved.
- Day 0 is the day symptoms began or the day the person took a test that had a positive result. Day 1 is the day after symptoms begin or, if a person does not have symptoms, the day after the person tested positive (use the date the test was collected).
- If they continue to have fever or their other symptoms have not improved after 5 days of isolation, they should stay in isolation until they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and their other symptoms have improved.
- Individuals should continue to wear a well-fitting mask (e.g., KN95) around others at home and in public places for 5 additional days (day 6 through day 10) after the end of their 5-day isolation.
All those exposed, even those who are vaccinated, should watch for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days post exposure. If at any time during this 14 days a person develops symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of their vaccination status, they should isolate and be tested.
*Within the K-12 setting, those who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccination include:
- Individuals 18 or older (including students) who have received all recommended vaccine doses, including boosters and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people.
- Youth 5-17 years who have completed the two-shot series of COVID-19 vaccines.
- Individuals who have confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days (individuals who have tested positive using a COVID-19 viral test.)
Click for some Frequently Asked Questions (Preguntas Frecuentes) and consent form (Spanish).
Updated from: 12/13/21