Thread by @smartrestartaps

Uh oh… APS Policy: Don’t notify kids/staff if they were near a COVID-19 case, if were wearing a mask? Hmmm…Confusing. An upset parent just sent us this APS note about contact tracing and asked us if we understood it. APS cites CDC…

BUT a 3-minute search of CDC turns up a guide for what to do if you have COVID, which CLEARLY states people you were near while wearing masks ARE CLOSE CONTACTS and must be notified. Is it any wonder why parents are worried ‘bout back to school… especially for unvaxed kids < 12?

WHY would we not err on side of at least notification? If nothing else? How many APS families include multigenerational members, caregivers for elderly, pregnant moms, new babies, or immune-compromised members at more risk from COVID-19?

Communication = caring

Not providing an educational environment that is objectively as safe as possible for all families to access, for in-person learning, is completely inequitable. Especially when you consider who bears the greatest burden of risk from such policies — and likely pays the price.

Fast notification is essential if someone will become infectious more quickly with Delta, and have a 1000x bigger viral load, which makes them even more likely to spread it to their family, including siblings who *also* may be in school.

What if APS provided free rapid tests?

Facts on Delta: The peak day for a PCR sample to confirm infection is now 3.71 days from exposure. But you could have been contagious on days 2 and 3 after exposure! See the need for notification, FAST tests, and brief self-isolation? This is a new enemy.

medical.mit.edu/covid-19-updat…

How LONG is one contagious? CDC’s leaked slides say Delta shedding could happen for 18 days. So a negative test before return to school may be important. But if a close contact isolates for 3-5 days *after* exposure and has a negative test, never gets sick, could return sooner?

All of this REALLY needs to be revised to reflect the situation on the ground, not September 2020. APS needs to start moving at the speed of events, not lag 8 months behind solid evidence and facts.

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