Lyme-Old Lyme reports first COVID-19 case of the school year
Old Lyme — The first COVID-19 case of the school year in Lyme-Old Lyme was announced this weekend after doors opened last Thursday.
The district was alerted Friday night of the positive case at Lyme Consolidated School, according to a letter to parents from Superintendent of Schools Ian Neviaser. The notification put into action a contact-tracing protocol based on federal, state and regional guidelines that have evolved since the past school year.
Neviaser on Monday described contact tracing as a precautionary measure that helps the district prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in the schools.
"It does not mean that there's been transmission in school nor at this point do we have any evidence of that," he said.
He did not disclose the number of students required to quarantine.
Guidance from Ledge Light Health District states students and staff members who have been fully vaccinated do not need to quarantine as long as they are asymptomatic.
Both students and staff will continue wearing masks indoors until at least Sept. 30, under an executive order issued by Gov. Ned Lamont. Neviaser has said the district will reassess the mask requirement when the governor's executive order expires.
Lyme-Old Lyme schools do not require COVID-19 vaccinations for students, though he said they encourage everyone who is eligible to consider getting it. Teachers and staff must be vaccinated under a state mandate that goes into effect Sept. 27.
State guidance notes that vaccination, available to people age 12 and older, "is the most effective strategy available to school communities to protect continuous in-person learning and other school-based activities."
Students, regardless of vaccination status, also do not have to quarantine if they were wearing masks in a classroom setting seated at least 3 feet apart for the duration of any contact. If they were closer than 3 feet apart for 15 minutes or more in the classroom, a quarantine is required.
Quarantine is required if the exposure occurs at lunch, recess or on the bus for anyone within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more.
The quarantine period will be the same as last year, according to Neviaser. That's 10 days for symptom-free students, or seven days with documentation of a negative COVID-19 test. Staff members can return after seven days, or five days with a negative test.
Neviaser said the remote learning options for students under quarantine depend on age.
Students in elementary school are more likely to use the asynchronous learning model, which means they get online lessons and assignments but do not communicate with teachers in real time. Older students are more likely to use the synchronous model that involves interactive methods using real-time video technology.
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