COVID Quarantine & Testing Updates

Dear Parents,

On January 4th, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated and clarified the recent changes that they instituted for isolation and quarantine when a person has COVID (isolation required) or is in close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 (quarantines sometimes required.) In this very recent update, the CDC confirmed that their changes apply to K-12 school settings.

A visual summary of the new CDC updates is included in this infographic. To read the full information, use t his link to the CDC.

It is important for you to know of these clarifications and updates:

These people do not have to quarantine if they are close contacts with someone who tests positive for COVID:

Those who are 18 years or older and have received all recommended vaccine doses, including boosters.
Those aged 5-17 and have completed both doses of their COVID-19 vaccines.
Those who tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 90 days.

Quarantine and Return to School

Unvaccinated students and non-boosted adults who become close contacts with someone who has a positive test for COVID must quarantine for five full days after exposure (which is day zero).
Those in quarantine need to be tested on day five and symptom-free to return to work or school on day six.
Strict mask use in public is required for an additional five days after quarantine.

COVID Case Isolation and Return to School

When a person has COVID and experiences symptoms, the person must isolate, at home for five full days. Day zero is the first day of symptoms.
When a person tests positive COVID but has no symptoms, the person must isolate at home for five full days. Day zero is the date of the COVID test.
Individuals who had symptoms may return to school on day six, using strict mask protocols, and if they are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of medicine) and any other symptoms have improved.
Strict mask use is required for an additional five days past the five-day isolation period.
At Villa, we ask those isolated due to a positive COVID case to obtain a negative test on day five of quarantine before returning to school.

COVID Tests: Preferences and Protocols

We prefer the use of PCR Covid tests. Some locations receiving PCR COVID tests are the University of Washington, Curative, or Solv.
We also accept at-home, rapid antigen tests. If you are submitting a negative rapid antigen test, you must write the student first and last name, grade level, and date on the front of the test and take a photo of the test which clearly shows the line/lines proving negative results, and email that photo to Ms. Padilla, cpadilla@thevilla.org.

Communicating Your Child’s Illness and/or Close Contact Quarantine:

It is normal that some students or family members will become sick with Omicron or be in close contact with someone who tests positive. If this occurs for your family, please communicate your specific information to:

Ms. Padilla, cpadilla@thevilla.org; and,
Your child’s advisor or homeroom teacher, the appropriate Division Director (Ms. May, Ms. Sullivan, Ms. Heidi), and Ms. Emma Hodgson if your child is registered for EDP or enrichment classes.

It is important to note that the state of Washington Department of Health is still updating its school-specific policies. When those updates are published, we will inform you of any Villa practice and policies changes.

Villa has registered with Learn to Return to begin implementing both pooled PCR testing and diagnostic rapid antigen testing. These processes will take a little time to be finalized and implemented. We will keep you updated about that process as we learn more.

I appreciate the positive spirit, warm understanding, and community thoughtfulness that has been so evident as we started back to school amid this Omicron surge. I trust that we will navigate this new wave with continued grace and compassion.

With appreciation,

Julie Thenell Grasseschi, Interim Head of School