All Harborlight families and staff are asked to adhere to the Massachusetts travel order and are reminded to check for updates to the travel order on www.mass.gov . Additionally, Harborlight is considering visiting guests from high-risk states to be the equivalent of traveling to high risk areas. Therefore, if you have out of town guests from a Massachusetts designated, high-risk state, we ask that all household members get tested (PCR test) or quarantine for 14 days upon your guest's departure.The current list of COVID-19 lower-risk states includes:
none Abbreviated Mass Travel Order:
All individuals entering Massachusetts must quarantine for 14 days from the date of arrival in Massachusetts unless the individual meets one of the criteria below:You do not need to quarantine for 14 days if you took a test for COVID-19 and have received a negative result. The specimen for ht test must have been collected no longer than 72 hours before your arrival in Massachusetts, and the testing must be by a method approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
- Lower-risk State: This includes individuals coming from a COVID-19 lower-risk state within the United States.
- 72-hour Testing Rule: The individual can produce, upon request, proof of a negative test result for COVID-19 from a test administered on a sample taken no longer than 72 hours before your arrival in Massachusetts.
Information about approved molecular tests can be found in the Department of Public Health Guidance. A negative result from a rapid antigen test must be confirmed by a negative result from an FDA EUA-approved molecular (PCR) SARS-CoV2 test, on a sample obtained 72 hours or less prior to arrival in Massachusetts.CDC considerations for Holiday travel and celebrations:Traveling increases the chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others.If you decide to travel, follow these safety measures during your trip to protect yourself and others from COVID-19:
- Wear a mask in public settings, like on public and mass transportation, at events and gatherings, and anywhere you will be around other people.
- Avoid close contact by staying at least 6 feet apart (about 2 arms’ length) from anyone who is not from your household.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol).
- Avoid contact with anyone who is sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
After you travelYou may have been exposed to COVID-19 on your travels. You may feel well and not have any symptoms, but you can be contagious without symptoms and spread the virus to others. You and your travel companions (including children) pose a risk to your family, friends, and community for 14 days after you were exposed to the virus. Regardless of where you traveled or what you did during your trip, take these actions to protect others from getting sick after you return:
- When around others, stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people who are not from your household. It is important to do this everywhere, both indoors and outdoors.
- Wear a mask to keep your nose and mouth covered when you are outside of your home.
- Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol).
- Watch your health and look for symptoms of COVID-19. Take your temperature if you feel sick.
Hosting a holiday gatheringIf you will be hosting a celebration, follow CDC tips for hosting gatherings. Below are some additional considerations for hosting a holiday celebration:
- Host outdoor activities rather than indoor activities as much as possible. If hosting an outdoor event is not possible, and you choose to host an indoor event, avoid crowded, poorly ventilated, or fully enclosed indoor spaces.
- Increase ventilation by opening windows and doors to the extent that is safe and feasible based on the weather.
- Host activities with only people from your local area as much as possible.
- Limit numbers of attendees as much as possible.
- Provide updated information to your guests about any COVID-19 safety guidelines and steps in place to prevent the spread of the virus.
- Provide or encourage attendees to bring supplies to help you and others stay healthy. For example, extra masks (do not share or swap with others), hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, and tissues.
- If you are planning in-person holiday gatherings with people outside of your household, consider asking all guests to strictly avoid contact with people outside of their households for 14 days before the gathering.
Attending a holiday gatheringIf you will be attending a celebration that someone else is hosting, follow CDC Considerations for attending an event or gathering. Below are some additional considerations for attending an in-person holiday gathering:
- Outdoor activities are safer than indoor activities. If participating in an outdoor event is not possible, and you choose to attend an indoor event, avoid crowded, poorly ventilated, and fully enclosed indoor spaces. Increase ventilation by opening windows and doors to the extent that is safe and feasible based on the weather.
- Check with the event host, organizer, or event venue for updated information about any COVID-19 safety guidelines and if they have steps in place to prevent the spread of the virus.
- Bring supplies to help you and others stay healthy. For example, bring extra masks (do not share or swap with others), hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, and tissues.
- If you are planning to attend in-person holiday gatherings with people outside of your household, consider strictly avoiding contact with people outside of your household for 14 days before the gathering.
Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, influenza vaccine will be required for all Harborlight students ages 6 months and up. Influenza vaccine is always important to receive to reduce the risk of getting sick with influenza, reduce the severity of disease if one does get sick (including the risk of hospitalization) due to influenza, as well as preventing the spread of influenza to others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza vaccine will be especially critical to reduce the overall impact of respiratory illness on the population, protect vulnerable populations from severe illness, and decrease the overall burden on the healthcare system.Greetings Harborlight Families,I just wanted to remind everyone about the Flu Vaccine requirement for all children 6 months of age or older who are attending Massachusetts childcare, pre-school, kindergarten, k-12, and colleges and universities. Unless a medical or religious exemption is provided, students will be required to have received a flu vaccine by December 31, 2020. Vaccination this year is more important than ever and will serve to keep our community healthy and preserve health care resources already strained by the ongoing pandemic. Finally, I want to thank all of you for your continuing compliance and efforts related to the state and school COVID protocols. I fully understand how difficult this year is, but you are all extraordinary families, and I am honored to part of this community.Stay safeChris