The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) recently provided updated guidance for COVID-19 protocols in schools. CPS will follow DESE’s guidance. Masks will continue to be optional, pending changes to the CDC’s COVID-19 risk levels. Our schools will be a mask friendly environment. Students and staff may choose whether to wear a mask or not.

For questions regarding COVID-19 protocols, please reach out to your school principal. 

DESE Fall 2022 Guidance

The following changes will be in place for the 2022-2023 school year:

• Quarantine is no longer required nor recommended for exposed children or staff in school settings, regardless of vaccination status or where the exposure occurred. All exposed individuals may continue to attend programming as long as they remain asymptomatic. Individuals who are exposed to Covid-19 who can mask are recommended to do so until Day 10, and it is recommended that they test on Day 6 of exposure. If symptoms develop, follow the guidance for symptomatic individuals below.

• Children and staff who test positive should report the positive case to the school and must isolate for at least 5 days. If they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and they have been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours, they may return to programming after Day 5 and should wear a high-quality mask through Day 10:

  • If the individual is able to mask, they must do so through Day 10.

    • If the child has a negative test on Day 5 or later, they do not need to mask.

    • If the individual is unable to mask, they may return to programming with a negative test on Day 5 or later.

• Symptomatic individuals will be sent home and allowed to return to their program or school if symptoms remain mild and they test negative, or they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and their symptoms are resolving, or if a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis. A negative test is strongly recommended for return. 

• Mitigation strategies will be focused on vulnerable and symptomatic individuals

• Updated Friday, January 6, 2023: There is a mask mandate at Chelsea Public Schools, pending changes to CDC's COVID Risk Levels (released weekly). Students and staff returning from quarantine or in the health office will have to continue wearing masks. 

• Contact tracing, test-to-stay, and surveillance testing will no longer take place on campus

Daily COVID-19 Symptom Checklist

Chelsea Public Schools has shared a list of potential COVID-19 symptoms for students, staff, parents and families. Prior to school, students and stuff must self-screen using the check lists below. If you meet any of symptoms (organized by vaccination status), do not come to school. 

• Daily COVID-19 Symptom Checklist - English
• Daily COVID-19 Symptom Checklist - Spanish