As we approach the February school break, Newton Public Schools’ families & staff are urged to take responsibility and do their part to help keep us all safe. Everyone is required to follow Governor Baker’s orders. MDPH asks residents to:

• Postpone or cancel travel. If you do choose to travel, be aware of and comply with Massachusetts travel order requirements (and see below)
• Limit gatherings

Massachusetts Travel Order requirements:

All visitors (even children) entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, from higher-risk states must complete a Massachusetts Travel Form and quarantine for 10 days upon arrival in Massachusetts or produce a negative COVID-19 PCR test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to arrival in Massachusetts. Failure to comply may result in a $500 fine per day.

• This order applies even “just for the day” for celebrations or a ski trip.
• Owning/renting a home in another state is NOT an exception.
• This order applies to all US states except Hawaii as of 2/8/21 – this can change. Check the website for a full, up-to-date, list of COVID risk designation per state at: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order#lower-risk-states-
• If your COVID-19 test result has not been received prior to arriving in Massachusetts, visitors, and residents must quarantine until they receive a negative test result.
• Children age 10 and younger who travel must follow the quarantine or testing plan their parent elects (testing option or 10-day quarantine option). Testing for children, 10 years and younger, who are traveling with an adult from their household is not required.
• Individuals who are COVID-19-recovered, meaning individuals who tested positive more than 10 days but less than 90 days ago and who do not have symptoms, do not need to obtain a negative PCR test prior to traveling to, or quarantine upon arrival to, Massachusetts.  COVID-19 recovered individuals arriving in Massachusetts must have documentation of the positive PCR test result, including the date it was taken, available if asked. This exception does not include COVID-19-recovered individuals who have symptoms of COVID-19, who must follow all testing and quarantine guidance outlined in the travel rules.

Returning to school:

• If you traveled, you must have received your negative COVID-19 test results before returning to school. Or, for children 10 and younger, their parents have received negative PCR results, unless the whole family is quarantining for 10 days.
• Complete your Daily Health Assessment every morning and stay home to seek medical advice if you have any symptoms and inform your child’s School Nurse.
• Contact your child’s School Nurse if you have questions.

Adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health