BCSD 2023-2024 COVID Resource Page

Please note this letter was emailed home to all BCSD families on March 8, 2024. If you did not receive this email please reach out to your building’s main office to update your contact information.

March 8, 2024

Dear Parents/Guardians:

On March 1, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially revised and simplified its COVID-19 guidance for how long individuals should isolate themselves from others. Most notably, the updated guidelines discontinue the requirements for a 5-day quarantine.

Individuals should not attend work or school if they are exhibiting symptoms of an illness or if they have had a fever within 24 hours.

The CDC has moved from virus-specific guidance to issuing overall Respiratory Virus Guidance as the threat of COVID-19 has become similar to common respiratory illnesses such as the flu and RSV. Its new recommendations “suggest returning to normal activities when symptoms are improving overall, and if a fever was present, it has been gone for 24 hours without use of a fever-reducing medication.” New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Updated Recommendations

For examples of what to do when your child contracts a respiratory virus review the information below and or click here.

If your child is sick:

Your child should stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick) if your child has respiratory virus symptoms that aren’t better explained by another cause.
If your child’s symptoms include but are not limited to fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and or headache, take a COVID-19 test.
- Please note BCSD has a limited number of tests available. To request a COVID-19 test kit please contact:

Michele Corsey, RN-School Nurse – Berlin Middle School/High School
Phone – (518) 658-1500 ext. 1061
Email – mcorsey@berlincentral.org

Jean Hammond, RN-School Nurse – Berlin Elementary School
Phone – (518) 658-1500 ext. 308
Email – jhammond@berlincentral.org

If your child has early to latent symptoms of a respiratory illness or tested positive for COVID-19, please review the CDC’s Updated Guidance.
Your child can go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:
- Your child’s symptoms are getting better overall, and
- Your child has not had a fever for 24 hours (and is not using fever-reducing medication).
When your child goes back to normal activities, please take added precautions over the next 5 days, such as taking additional steps for cleaner air, hygiene (washing hands before eating/covering your cough), masks, and physical distancing
If your child develops a fever or starts to feel worse after he or she has gone back to normal activities, your child should stay home and away from others again until, for at least 24 hours, both are true: your child’s symptoms are improving overall, and your child have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Then, take added precautions for the next 5 days.

Remember that even if your child is feeling better, he or she may still be able to spread the virus that made him or her sick.

Please continue to notify the school if your child tests positive for COVID-19, Flu or RSV.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and understanding as we adapt to the new guidance.

Sincerely,

Dr. Maureen A. Long

Interim Superintendent

Please note this letter was emailed home to all BCSD families on December 18, 2023. If you did not receive this email please reach out to your building’s main office to update your contact information.

Dear BCSD Community,

The Berlin Central School District is monitoring an increase in the number of positive COVID-19, RSV, and Flu cases within our district.

The BCSD administrative team met today to review current infection rates and our protocols and practices regarding responding to COVID-19. At this time we intend to continue with in-person instruction, but wanted to make you aware in the event that changes. A continued increase in cases could result in staggered transportation/bus schedules, or moving to remote instruction at one or more buildings.

As in the past, we will need the community’s help and collaboration to continue to provide the best social-emotional and academic, in-person learning experiences, for our students as we work through this uptick in cases.

BCSD will place dispensers of hand sanitizers in all buildings and facilities, and make masks and other relevant PPE available. The BCSD Buildings and Grounds staff will continue to conduct daily cleaning and disinfection of facilities.

Please review the symptom chart and the important information below regarding prevention and symptoms.

If you have questions please feel free to reach out to your school building’s nurse or attendance clerk, if you test positive, please notify your medical provider and your school’s building nurse.

COVID links below for guidance:

Free home test kits- https://www.covid.gov/tools-and-resources/resources/tests

We will continue to monitor the situation and update the community with any changes.

Please note:

There will be no more Quarantines (except for those individuals who test positive and have to Isolate)
We will not be doing Contact Tracing
There will be no Covid testing for Sports
We will not be doing testing of unvaccinated staff
We have discontinued our Covid tracker

The following items are still in effect –

5 days of Isolation for a person who tests positive for Covid
Wearing a mask from day 6-10 for a person who tested positive (upon their return to school) – this could be shortened by testing negative on days 5 and 7 (Tests can be provided upon request and availability). Upon these two tests having a negative result, the individual does not have to wear a mask from days 8-10.

If you are informed you have been exposed to someone that has tested positive for COVID within the last 10 days-you should test yourself for COVID when you find out, and again at least 5 days later, or sooner if you become symptomatic. You should wear a mask for 10 days after

The Berlin Central School District Health Offices have an abundance of home test kits available that can be picked up at school in both health offices or sent home with your child upon request.

Sincerely,

Dr. Maureen A. Long

Interim Superintendent

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