Mars Area School District's new quarantine policy, which went into effect Wednesday, makes quarantining optional for close contacts who are asymptomatic, but requires five-day quarantines for students who test positive or who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19.

Superintendent Mark Gross elaborated on the decision made at the meeting in a letter to parents Tuesday night.

“As mask use is voluntary and with the current surge in reported cases of COVID-19, the district has experienced a significant increase in the number of healthy students who are identified as close contacts and are required to quarantine,” Superintendent Mark Gross said in a letter sent to parents. “In an effort to reduce these numbers, the district will permit students who are identified as close contacts and who are not experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 to remain in school for in-person learning.”

The district plans to continue contact tracing, and will notify all close contacts by phone and or email.

“As long as they remain symptom-free, close contacts will have the option to remain in school or to quarantine at home for five days,” Gross wrote. “Parents/guardians who elect to have their child quarantined, even though they are symptom-free, are asked to contact their child's building principal.”

Any students who are required to quarantine, the letter said, will need to shift to the district's Live-Stream Interactive (LSI) remote instruction program.

The letter also specifies that any child who is not well enough to participate in school, either in-person or via LSI, can also take a sick day as an excused absence.

“Please be reminded that COVID-19 cases and transmission rates remain high in our region, and although mask use remains voluntary, students and parents/guardians are encouraged to wear an appropriate face covering and to practice proper social distancing wherever possible,” Gross wrote. “Current conditions as well as the district's protocols are continuously under review and subject to change at any time; therefore, we appreciate your patience and cooperation as we remain committed to ensuring that a safe, happy and healthy educational experience is in place for all of our district students and families.”

A flow chart included with the letter also said that testing is recommended five to seven days after a student's initial exposure. If a student tests negative for COVID-19, they are not required to quarantine, but are asked to wear a mask around others through day 10.

Students must provide medical documentation of a negative test result upon returning to school. Students who are asymptomatic after being exposed who elect to remain in school are also asked to wear a mask through day 10.

As of Jan. 7, Mars Area reported 96 active positive student cases, with seven at Mars Area Primary Center, 34 at Mars Area Elementary School, 13 at Mars Area Centennial School, 22 at Mars Area Middle School and 20 at Mars Area High School.

A total of 256 student quarantine cases are currently active across the district.

The district also reported 11 active adult positive cases and nine active adult quarantine cases.