The Biden administration will unveil a “test to stay” strategy Friday that aims to keep in-classroom learning viable during an anticipated spike in COVID-19 cases.
NBC News explains:
Instead of mandatory quarantines for students identified as close contacts of a Covid-positive peer, those students could remain in school if they test negative for the virus at least twice during the week after an exposure.
The outlet adds:
The Biden administration is seeking to head off major disruptions in hospital and school settings as the omicron variant, now gaining a foothold in the U.S., is expected to barrel into the upcoming holiday season. Schools are particularly vulnerable, with just 18 percent of kids ages 5 to 11 with at least one shot, as well as 61 percent of those ages 12 to 17, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released two studies on Friday that show that “test to stay” – when combined with mask wearing – is safe.
CBS News provides the details:
In one report, the agency assessed the use of the practice in Lake County, Illinois, from early August through October. During this period, more than 250 positive cases were identified, resulting in more than 1,000 close contacts that qualified for the “test to stay” program. Nearly 97% of students who qualified for the program participated.
The CDC found that among close contacts who participated in the program, 16 ultimately tested positive, none of whom spread the virus to other school-based contacts (although nine tertiary cases were reported among household contacts of the 16 secondary cases. Secondary exposure occurs when a person is directly exposed to a person who has had direct contact with someone who has contracted COVID. A tertiary contact takes place when a person is exposed to someone with secondary exposure). The agency also found that students participating in the program preserved more than 8,100 total school days.
A similar study produced similar results in Los Angeles.
The “test to stay” policy is consistent with a renewed focus on COVID-19 testing in general. New York City is opening five new brick-and-mortar testing sites, deploying a number of mobile testing units, and distributing hundreds of thousands of at-home tests.
Public health officials have called on the Biden administration to make at-home tests free for the entire population. Several countries – including the UK, Germany, and South Korea – already distribute tests free of charge.
