COVID Information

January 10, 2022

Dear North Babylon Community, 

This letter is to inform you of important changes to COVID-19 related isolation and quarantine expectations. On January 4, 2022, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) released Interim Updated Isolation and Quarantine Guidance (HERE). On January 6, 2022, we received notice that the Suffolk County Department of Health has adopted these guidelines as well (HERE). At the Board of Education meeting held on Thursday, January 6, 2022 the Board of Education adopted this ideology. Please be advised this is interim guidance and is subject to change. 

These changes for North Babylon students are effective Tuesday, January 11, 2022 and moving forward. Therefore, anyone quarantined as a close contact or placed in isolation being COVID-19 positive prior to January 11, 2022 should follow the guidance they were given at that time. We will not be recalculating these time periods. 

Please take the time to read the attached hyperlinked documents carefully as they outline several major changes to the previous expectations for isolation and quarantines. Suffolk County has created a useful website that also outlines the expectations and can be found HERE

If your child tests positive on an “at home” test following the “at home” testing guideline HERE please ensure to notify your child’s school nurse and the Suffolk County Department of Health linked HERE. When your child has completed the required quarantine period (identified as a close contact) or isolation period (COVID-19 Positive) identified in the new regulations, please fill out the form linked HERE to inform the school of your calculated return to school date. All information must be filled out on the form accurately and prior to your child’s return to school. 

If your child has been quarantined in line with current regulations of the Suffolk County Department of Health and you are seeking an early return from quarantine, please fill out the form linked HERE.

Should you have a question about your child’s specific situation, please contact their school nurse. While we welcome the opportunity for students and staff to return to our schools more quickly, it is very important that we maintain and enforce our current safety practices as we navigate the latest surge in the pandemic. We all play an important role in providing for the safety of our students, staff and the community at large. Your anticipated cooperation with this is greatly appreciated.


Sincerely,

Glen A. Eschbach

Superintendent of Schools