Yesterday, Ohio Governor DeWine announced a new quarantine option - Mask to Stay, Test to Play - that is a result of a growing body of national experience, as well as the Warren County pilot our district helped lead. The guidelines help keep healthy kids learning in school, and participating in the activities they love. They are another step in ensuring that our children stay connected to their educators and classmates - a crucial component for children’s mental wellness. 

The new guidelines are for students who were exposed to COVID-19 in a classroom setting or school-related activity. Those exposed to COVID-19 outside of school should continue to follow standard quarantine guidelines. Guidelines have been approved by the FCS Board of Education. 

**FCS will continue to notify families when they have a child who is a direct contact at school. Students who are a direct contact due to a school exposure will be opted into the new Mask to Stay program.  If a family chooses the standard 10-day quarantine at home, they should report their child’s quarantine absence to their individual building. 

Mask to Stay

Under Mask to Stay, students can continue with in-person learning after being directly exposed to COVID-19 in a school setting if they do the following:

• Wear a mask for at least 14 days after the initial exposure date

• Self-monitor or have a parent monitor for symptoms of COVID-19

• Isolate and get tested if they show symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of the severity of symptoms

Students discontinue the quarantine procedures after seven days if they don't develop any symptoms and if they test negative for the virus on days 5, 6, or 7 from their exposure.

Test to Play

Test to Play permits students to participate in extracurricular activities after being directly exposed to COVID-19 in a school setting if they:

• Wear a mask when able, such as while on a team bus, in the locker room or while on the sidelines or bench

• Get tested for COVID-19 once they learn they were exposed to the virus

• Test again between days five and seven following the initial exposure.

Students discontinue the quarantine procedures after seven days if they test negative for the virus on days 5, 6, or 7 from their exposure.

About the Pilot

10 Warren County school districts participated in the 4-week Test & Stay pilot program with the Warren County Combined Health District and with assistance from the Ohio Department of Health. Participating districts included Carlisle Local Schools, Clinton-Massie Local Schools, Franklin City Schools, Kings Local Schools, Lebanon City Schools, Little Miami, Mason City Schools, Monroe City Schools, Springboro, Wayne Local Schools, the Warren County Career Center and the Warren County Educational Service Center. During the pilot:

• 790 Warren County students were identified as direct contacts at school (125 FCS students)
• 457 Warren County students participated in the program (79 FCS students)
• 335 Warren County students completed the 7-day program with negative tests and no symptoms (42 FCS students)
• 106 Warren County students are still in the program 
• 12 Warren County students had a positive test result after the first test (2.63% of program participants)
• 4 Warren County students had a positive test result after the second test (0.88% of program participants) 
• 3,370 days of in-person learning were saved 

Thanks for all you do to support our students and staff!

Yesterday’s press conference announcing “Mask to Stay” and “Test to Play” can be viewed online at https://youtu.be/bBDhjLtuDJg

Full Press Release