BOSTON (WHDH) - Following the updated COVID-19 guidelines the CDC unveiled last week, Massachusetts state officials have unveiled new guidelines for children and staff in schools and day cares.
According to a statement on the Mass.gov website, the Commonwealth is no longer recommending contract tracing or universal masking requirements in these settings.
Additionally, symptomatic individuals can remain in their school or program if they have mild symptoms, are tested immediately onsite and the test is negative.
Six-foot social distancing, contract tracing and quarantining without testing positive were among the protocols that the CDC put by the wayside earlier this week.
“They are closing that gap between what is realistic to expect of people and what is still likely to have significant benefit,” said Dr. Shira Doron, an infectious disease physician at Tufts Medical Center.
She added that she’s encouraged by the rollback, as it signals a return to normalcy, especially ahead of the upcoming school year.
The full set of updated of guidelines can be read on the mass.gov website.
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