New Screen and Stay Policy For Region 4 Schools

ESSEX, CHESTER, DEEP RIVER, CT — A Press Release From Regional District 4:

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff of Chester, Deep River, Essex, and Region 4 Schools,
On Thursday, November 4th, Governor Lamont shared guidance about Screen and Stay, a new procedure offered by the CT Department of Public Health regarding school quarantines. After meeting on Monday with local health authorities to review this guidance, our districts are choosing to adopt this procedure effective immediately. This provides an option for
families that may reduce the number of students being quarantined from school as a result of being identified as close contacts to a positive case. With the support of local health departments, our nursing staff will implement this new procedure with fidelity. Please note, not all students who are identified as close contacts will qualify for Screen and Stay.

Students and staff who are not fully vaccinated may remain in school after a close contact, provided:
1. The only contact occurred during the school day (no extracurricular or social contact)
2. If indoors or on a school bus or other transportation, both the contact and the case were masked during exposure
3. If during brief unmasked periods (e.g., snack time, cafeteria) 6' or more of space was maintained
4. If outdoors, masked or unmasked, but staff supervised (e.g., mask breaks, PE, recess)
5. Contact remains asymptomatic (any symptoms revert to regular isolation/quarantine)

Scenarios that would not support a Screen and Stay approach:
1. Contact with a case during interscholastic or other athletic activities (other than during supervised PE)
2. Contact occurring during social interactions or similar activities outside of school
3. Contact where the case or contact is not consistently and correctly wearing a mask indoors (e.g., eating, wind instrument
playing) and 6' of distance is not maintained
4. Household contacts (i.e., the contact lives with case)
5. The contact cannot consistently and correctly wear a mask
6. The contact occurs in the R4 Collaborative Preschool program

Students eligible for Screen and Stay will be required to complete a daily screening on each of the 14 days after exposure with signed affirmation, eat in an alternate location, and have limited participation in PE and music classes. While Screen and Stay requires several steps for successful implementation, we are pleased to offer this option to keep students in school. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Sarah Smalley, Director of Pupil Services, and District
COVID-19 Liaison, ssmalley@reg4.k12.ct.us.

Sincerely,
Brian J. White Sarah Smalley
Superintendent of Schools Director of Pupil Services
( and District COVID-19 Liaison)