Unvaccinated Student In West Orange? Quarantine If You Travel

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Unvaccinated students in the West Orange Public School District will have to take a coronavirus test and self-quarantine when they return from a family trip, district officials recently announced.

On Monday, Superintendent Scott Cascone laid out the district’s updated travel policy, which will be effective when students return for the first day of school on Sept. 9. While unvaccinated students must take a COVID-19 test and self-quarantine, those who have been fully vaccinated won’t need to quarantine when they return from a trip.

• See related article: COVID Vaccine Clinic In West Orange Open To Ages 12 And Up

“As we begin to prepare for a September 2021 return to school, we know that families have pre-planned vacation trips or may be planning for a final trip with their child(ren) to wrap up the summer break,” Cascone wrote, adding that the district’s policy aligns with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the New Jersey Department of Health and local health officials.

Here are some details about the new travel policy, which apply to any trip that lasts 24 hours or more outside of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware or Connecticut.

For unvaccinated persons after you travel:

Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel.

• Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days
• If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected
• If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel

Important Note: The day the family returns is Day Zero. Then count seven or 10 full days depending on testing results.

What does this mean for the return to school?

Unvaccinated Travelling Student Quarantine Guidelines: May attend on the first day of school, Thursday, September 9 ONLY IF student returns from travel on September 1 and tests negative on Day 3, 4 or 5 after return, 7 days of quarantine (or) student returns from travel on August 29 and chooses not to test, 10 of days of quarantine days.

How will students access their classes during quarantine?

If your family does not return by the dates above, your unvaccinated students may access their classes virtually during quarantine. Details will be shared next week regarding Chrome book reservations and pick-up for parents/guardians who foresee the need for their child(ren) to travel quarantine at the start of the year and are in need of a district-issued device.

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