Test to Stay - ages 2 and up
We are excited to announce that we will be participating in the Test to Stay pilot program with the Virginia Department of Health.
As we roll out this program, we anticipate that things will change and evolve. At the start, this program will ONLY be for exposures that happen at Common Ground. We have several ideas on how we may be able to use the provided tests for exposures that happed outside of Common Ground, but we want to be intentional and systematic with our roll out. We will be sending a “Test to Stay” form via adobe sign for each child who is 2 and up.
What is Test to Stay?
Test to Stay is a program in which close contacts of individuals with COVID-19 who are 2 years of age or older are allowed to remain in child care if they continue to test negative after the exposure, rather than quarantining at home. The close contacts take a rapid test daily for 5 days (except on weekends or holidays) after the exposure, and if the test is negative, they are allowed to stay in child care. (Test kits are provided free of charge.) Please note, at this time we are only allowing Test to Stay for exposures that happen at Common Ground.
What are the benefits of enrolling in the program?
Participating individuals may benefit from COVID-19 testing and early identification of COVID-19, and will benefit from being able to continue to attend child care.
What are the risks of enrolling in the program?
Potential risks include discomfort associated with the nasal swab used for testing, such as nose irritation, local pain around the nose, and nose bleeding.
What are the requirements of the program?
The individual wears a mask while at the child care center, except when eating, drinking, and sleeping, for 10 days following the exposure.
The individual takes a daily rapid antigen COVID-19 test for the first five days after exposure and it is negative.
The rapid test may be taken either every morning before attending child care or the evening prior to attending child care (ideally after 7pm)
Rapid test may be performed at home with a proctored test (e.g. eMed Abbott BinaxNOW Antigen At Home Test Kit)
Rapid test may be performed upon arrival at the child care center if the center has resources to do so.
The individual does not need to take a rapid test on mornings that fall on weekends or holidays (or the evenings prior), however, they must quarantine on these days (i.e. the student is not to attend birthday parties, sporting events, or any other group activities on these days)
The individual immediately isolates at home if they receive a positive test result
The individual monitors for symptoms of COVID-19 for 10 days, and immediately isolates at home if symptoms develop
Parents/guardians agree to do the following:
Sign the consent form to participate in Test to Stay.
Assess the student for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 each day before and after school.
Immediately contact the child’s healthcare provider and child care center if any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 occur.
Do not send the student to the child care center if any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 develop in the student.
Notify the child care facility of any new or additional close contact exposure to an individual with COVID-19 or suspected COVID-19 that is identified while participating in Test to Stay.
Promptly pick up their child from the child care center, should they test positive or develop signs or symptoms of COVID-19 while at the facility.
Comply with public health recommendations for quarantine when not attending in-person instruction. (i.e. Stay home away from others when not attending the child care facility)