Update From The School Health Office - 2/12/21

Dear Families,

Pooled Testing:

You may still give consent for your child to be included in pooled testing at this link:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiv5E0BikQXmHf1vrh8CYiLmCzR6W1jrx4PdQyhk6stbUd6w/viewform

Enrollment is ongoing at this time.

Students who attend in person learning 4 days a week will test on Mondays with Cohort A

The swab used to collect the sample is the size of a typical q-tip and is inserted just inside the nostril. Here is a photo of the actual swab used:

see photo here

If your child participated in pooled testing, you will be notified individually only if your child was a member in a positive pool. So remember, no news is good news!

Thank you to those who have already registered your child(ren) on the Project Beacon Portal. Project Beacon is used only if a follow-up test is needed. So if your child is in a positive pool, you will be notified to arrange for the follow-up test using the BinaxNOW rapid antigen test as soon as possible with the school nurse. The follow-up test will result in 15 minutes, and you can access the test result in your Project Beacon account that you created. If you have not created one yet for your child, please register at    https://app.beacontesting.com/register/with-code?code=LTTLPG   use the invitation code:  LTTLPG

Individuals who have previously tested positive (on an individual, not pooled, test) in the past 90 days should be excluded from pooled testing.  After 90 days, they should be included again in the pools. Please note that guidance on this point will soon be revised from 90 to 180 days after a positive individual test result. 

Reminders about COVID:  

Travel over February break
Anyone considering travel outside of the state, must follow Massachusetts Travel orders:   https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order    and inform the school nurse for a safe return to school plan. Upon return to MA, the traveler must quarantine for 10 days or test out of quarantine with a PCR test. Should you opt for the test, please submit the test result to me by email at cporell@littletonps.org. For any gatherings, it is best to try to keep to a small group of individuals with whom you are regularly in contact.

COVID-19  Vaccination Report by MA DPH
Everyone in Phase 1 and individuals who are ages 75+ are eligible to receive the  COVID-19 vaccine. If you are eligible, find a test site and the appointment guide here   https://www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine  The 2nd group eligible will be adults ages 65+ and the 3rd group includes early education and K-12 workers. For more information about the COVID-19 Vaccination Program, please visit     https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-covid-19-vaccination-data-and-updates

See image here

Flu vaccine - recommended but not mandated:
The MDPH is removing the flu vaccination requirement for students. Preliminary data show that so far, the flu season has been mild, presumably as people have received their flu shot and have been adhering to mask-wearing and social distancing due to COVID-19. The Department of Public Health continues to strongly recommend that everyone age 6 months and older receive their flu vaccine each year. 

Substitute Nurse Opportunities:

Support your community while enjoying parent hours and a short commute. Littleton Public Schools are in need of substitute school nurses. If interested, please contact the school nurse for more information or contact Dorothy Mulone at Central Office for an application at dmulone@littletonps.org.