unvaccinated kids exposed to COVID can stay in school if tested
With a potential surge in COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks, the Biden administration on Friday pressed its new strategy to reduce the time unvaccinated children miss in school after a virus exposure.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the “test to stay” strategy would increase testing of children and their close contacts after an exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in order to prevent the child from having to isolate at home and miss time in class.
The new guideline allows unvaccinated children to remain in school after an exposure under certain circumstances, including undergoing multiple tests. For children to remain in school, two negative tests within a week after the exposure are required.
CDC guidance does not require vaccinated people to isolate after a possible exposure.
Walensky said two studies in Los Angeles County and Lake County in Illinois showed promising results of the strategy working in conjunction with proper mask wearing and monitoring of symptoms and close contacts.
“These studies demonstrate that ‘test to stay’ works to keep unvaccinated children in school safely,” Walensky said.
According to CDC data, about 12% of children ages 5-11 are fully vaccinated and almost 53% of children ages 12-17 are, too. Walensky urged parents of eligible children to have them vaccinated.
Also in the news:
► The NFL has moved three games to Monday and Tuesday because of high COVID cases. There are more than 20 Cleveland players on the COVID-19 list and there has been a “substantial increase in cases across the league,” the NFL said in a statement.
► Pfizer and BioNTech on Thursday submitted paperwork to the Food and Drug Administration seeking a full license of its vaccine to expand its approval to include children ages 12 to 15.
►More than 100 Marines have been discharged for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine, the Marine Corps said Thursday.
►Two South Florida men pleaded guilty in Ohio to leading a nationwide scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $35 million in COVID-19 relief loans.
📈Today’s numbers: The U.S. has recorded more than 50.5 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 803,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Global totals: More than 272 million cases and 5.3 million deaths. More than 202 million Americans — 61% of the population — are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.
📘 What we’re reading: Flying into the United States? You could be met with a free COVID-19 testing kit upon arrival at certain airports.
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