May 3, 2021
As the global pandemic reaches its one-year milestone, discussions around quarantine and social distancing in educational settings have intensified. Many parents are advocating for a return to in-person classes, especially as vaccination rates among adults rise. The issue of who should quarantine and when has never been more confusing.
According to a report by Jenna Fields in The Daily Review, Ohio has updated its quarantine policies for students. The state has declared that quarantines are no longer obligatory for potential classroom exposures, provided students were wearing masks and adhering to other health protocols. “Educators and parents were thrilled about the change,” Ohio Governor Mark Rivers stated in an interview. “Children like Max and Emma don’t have to miss 14 days of school; they can remain in the classroom.”
The issue of quarantine may become more pressing this fall, as school districts across the country plan to resume full in-person learning, likely reducing the need for physical distancing. In Ohio, it was found that students who were in close contact but properly masked had COVID-19 rates comparable to those without any known school exposure.
This decision by the state contrasts with the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which advises isolating individuals categorized as “close contacts,” or those who have been within six feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes. Quarantine procedures can differ significantly by location; in some examples, if a student within a pod tests positive, all members of that pod may be required to quarantine.
The Daily Review illustrates this with a scenario from a science class. “If a science class has a positive case, often only those nearest to the infected student—within six feet for a combined 15 minutes over a 24-hour span—are sent home,” Fields notes. “High school students are more likely to face quarantine because they switch classes throughout the day, increasing their exposure risk.”
Criticism has arisen from some parents regarding the potential for students to constantly cycle in and out of quarantine, with one mother likening the experience to a 14-day suspension for simply “occupying the wrong seat.” The Biden administration has reiterated the importance of measures like mask-wearing, social distancing, and quarantining to curb the virus’s spread. Initial CDC guidelines recommended a 14-day quarantine, but the standard has now shifted to seven or ten days, depending on testing and other factors.
While CDC officials continue to advocate for quarantines as a key strategy to prevent transmission, they have acknowledged “some promising results” from studies in states like Missouri and Utah, where school quarantine policies were altered this year. However, the agency emphasized that these findings are insufficient to prompt a substantial change in overall guidance.
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Summary:
Some districts are moving away from mandatory student quarantines in light of updated health guidelines and increasing vaccination rates. Ohio has led the way in revising its quarantine policies, which could lead to a more consistent return to in-person learning. While the CDC continues to recommend quarantining for close contacts, the rules are rapidly evolving, reflecting the changing landscape of the pandemic and education.