Testing can replace quarantine for exposed students, CDC says

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday that it is safe to allow students who have been exposed to the coronavirus to keep coming to school and test them regularly, instead of sending them into at-home quarantine.

According to the Washington Post, the CDC studied outcomes of this practice in Lake County, Illinois, and Los Angeles County. In both counties, students wore masks, and those who were close contacts of someone who tested positive for Covid-19 were allowed to come to school if they did not have symptoms and were tested at least twice in the seven days after exposure.

“These studies demonstrate that test-to-stay works to keep unvaccinated children in school safely,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky told reporters.

The newspaper points out that there are challenges with carrying this practice out because many schools do not have enough tests or enough personnel to test students regularly.