January 4, 2021
Brunswick CSD Community,
Today the District was notified that a student in grade six at Tamarac Middle School has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Due to the timing of our holiday recess, this case does not require school-based contact tracing due to the last time the student was in the building.
In addition to this case, we wanted to inform you that New York State officially revised its quarantine protocol timetable for close contacts of positive COVID-19 patients to align with the guidance put forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
While a 14-day quarantine is still considered the “Gold Standard” by the CDC, the organization has adjusted its recommendations, allowing for a 10-day quarantine period if no symptoms are shown throughout the first 10 days. The Brunswick Central School District recognizes the burden that a 14-day quarantine places on our students, staff, and families, and will honor the new guidelines laid out by state and federal health organizations. Those who are currently in quarantine will remain on the 14-day quarantine schedule.
Students and staff members who are not symptomatic may return to school/work after they have completed their 10-day quarantine and should complete both the daily health screening survey and the quarantine questionnaire for days 11-14.
A negative test result does not allow students to return to in-person learning before his/her quarantine is over. If you receive a COVID-19 test, please do not enter any school building until the results of the test are known and until your quarantine period is over.
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, fatigue, headache, body aches, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, runny or stuffy nose, chills, sore throat and new loss of taste and/or smell.
If anyone experiences these symptoms, they should immediately self-isolate and contact the school district, the Rensselaer County Department of Health and their primary health care provider to determine if they require a COVID-19 test.
Anyone with questions and/or who needs to report a COVID-19 related health issue should contact the District’s COVID-19 resource person via the dedicated email addresses COVIDhotline@brunswickcsd.org and COVIDreporting@brunswickcsd.org.
As always, the health and safety of students and staff is the District’s top priority and we appreciate your cooperation and diligence during this time.
Thank you,
Dr. Angelina Maloney
Superintendent