As the December-January holiday break approaches, the Mount Madonna School (MMS) community has much to be grateful for. The holidays are traditionally times when families and friends travel to gather and celebrate together.
MMS remains committed to the health and well-being of our community by making informed, community-minded decisions.
To protect our school community during the holidays, MMS will adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel guidance. The CDC recommends that families delay travel until they are fully vaccinated.
CDC Guidelines for Fully Vaccinated Individuals
After traveling by public transportation such as airplane, bus, or train, fully vaccinated individuals should self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if an individual develops symptoms. Fully vaccinated individuals who feel healthy may return to MMS directly following the holiday break. MMS encourages all vaccinated students, faculty and staff to register for Inspire Diagnostics and participate in the weekly COVID-19 testing.
MMS considers people fully vaccinated if they are:
Two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as Moderna or Pfizer
Two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
CDC Guidelines for Unvaccinated Individuals
After traveling by public transportation such as airplane, bus, or train, unvaccinated individuals need to secure a negative PCR test before returning to school. If a family chooses not to get their student tested for COVID-19, their student will have to stay at home and self-quarantine for 10 days.
New Federal Restrictions for International Travel
On December 2, President Biden announced new international travel restrictions following the emergence of the COVID-19 Omicron variant. The announcement is part of the Administration’s plan, “New Actions to Protect Americans Against the Delta and Omicron Variants as We Battle COVID-19 this Winter.” The plan addresses a number of domestic and foreign efforts to combat the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.
President Biden’s Travel Restrictions
The new travel restrictions became effective on December 6. They apply to all travelers two years old and older, and they require international travelers to test for COVID-19 within one day of their departure from a foreign country. Additionally, through March 18, all travelers must wear face coverings during travel and while in transportation hubs. Employers whose employees plan to travel internationally for the holidays should advise them to schedule a COVID-19 test within one day of their return trip’s departure, and to observe the face covering requirements. Failure to test for COVID-19 within a day of departure could delay employees’ return.
CDC Travel Recommendations
Notably, the new restrictions do not require testing or quarantine after returning from international travel. However, the CDC still recommends that unvaccinated individuals self-quarantine for seven days after returning from international travel. It also recommends that all international travelers test for COVID-19 within three to five days of returning, regardless of vaccination status. The CDC further recommends that unvaccinated individuals test for COVID-19 one to three days before departure.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) also recommends that travelers follow CDC guidelines. While CDC and CDPH recommendations are not mandatory, they are designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and should be heeded whenever possible.