The Maine Department of Education (DOE) recently provided us with updated information regarding student and staff holiday travel, as the Governor recently added Massachusetts to the list of states from which travelers must quarantine when arriving in Maine. The DOE memo is provided here:
As we see the escalating impact of COVID-19 across our state and the nation, we recognize that friends and families are looking for ways to connect and to maintain normal traditions in an abnormal time. As the holiday season approaches, it is critically important that our school communities continue to do everything we can in order to keep our schools safe, open, and able to provide in-person instruction.
This may mean making the safe and difficult choice to limit holiday gathering and travel, as we know that both have additional risks for exposure and transmission of the virus. The United States Center for Disease Control has issued strong guidance to the American people to limit our interactions and travel this holiday season, so that we can all gather safely in the future. Further details of the CDC’s recommendations can be found, here.
Based on the recommendations of the community health experts, we strongly encourage our staff and students to celebrate each holiday within your current household only, and to limit any large gatherings.
Any staff or students who travel to any state other than New Hampshire or Vermont (no restrictions for these two states only as of 11/16/20; subject to change), will be required to either
- quarantine for 14 days upon return to Maine, or
- quarantine until a receiving a negative test result. The test must be taken either:
- in the state you are visiting and no more than 72 hours prior to your return to Maine, or
- once you return to Maine.
Any staff or students who have travelled to restricted states will not be permitted inside the school building until either the negative test result or 14 days has occurred.
This is not dependent on the length of time spent within the restricted states, meaning that a day visit still requires any person to quarantine for 14 days or until a negative test result is confirmed. All members of the household who travel must test or quarantine if over 12 months old. Testing site information for Maine can be found, here.
Any person who is quarantining should stay home, and not have in-person contact with others unless there is an emergency.
A non-traditional Thanksgiving can be hard on all of us, and CDC has some suggestions on healthy alternatives and precautions to consider that can be found, here. Please stay safe, and help us to keep our school community safe and able to provide for the students we serve.
Face coverings are required outside
It has been brought to our attention that some students, and others, are removing their face coverings upon leaving the school buildings. Please be reminded that the Governor's order requires that face coverings be worn even when outside, except during an approved "break" provided by the classroom teacher. This includes when walking or biking home along sidewalks and roadways.
COVID-19 Dashboard updated
Please remember that you may check our COVID-19 Dashboard at any time for updated information on the pandemic as it relates to our schools. As of today, our numbers look quite good: https://www.yarmouthschools.org/article/313180. Please be sure to continue with daily health screenings, wear face coverings, maintain social distance, and wash your hands regularly to help prevent transmission of the disease.