Barrington Public Schools not adopting shorter quarantine guidance

BARRINGTON, R.I. (WLNE)- Barrington Public Schools are not adopting the shorter quarantine guidance, which has been approved by Rhode Island.

RIDOH and the CDC suggested changes to COVID protocols and procedures that were put into effect Monday.

Most schools in the state are adopting the shorter, 5-day option for students and staff who test positive but are asymptomatic or having resolving symptoms.

The Superintendent of Barrington Public Schools cited the nationwide increase in positive cases for keeping the 10-day quarantine in place:

“At this time, the country is experiencing a spike in positive cases. Although BPS is adopting some of the recommendations as presented, we have also decided to revise some of the proposals to align with the current upward trend in positive cases,” said Superintendent, Michael Messore.

The schools will require students who test positive for COVID-19 to stay at home and isolate regardless of vaccination status.

These students can return to school on day 11 if they don’t have symptoms or their symptoms are improving and close to the baseline.

Students must also be fever-free for 24 hours.

“We will revisit when cases decrease,” says Messore.