Steuben County Health Department adopts “test to stay” COVID-19 strategy for local schools

Bath, New York – The “Test to Stay” (TTS) strategy allowed by the New York State Department of Health for county schools has been approved by the Steuben County Public Health Department.

According to this policy, asymptomatic students and non-vaccinated staff that are quarantined as a result of contact with a positive individual will be allowed to attend school as long as they test negative each day for seven days following exposure.

Fully vaccinated asymptomatic individuals do not get quarantined. These procedures do not apply to individuals that have tested positive for COVID.

“We have had many discussions with school superintendents this year who are concerned with the number of students who have missed instruction time due to quarantine,” said Public Health Director, Darlene Smith. “Test to stay offers an option for asymptomatic students and staff to remain in school as safely as possible.”

When not in school, exposed students and staff must remain quarantined and are not allowed to participate in extracurricular activities. Quarantined asymptomatic students and staff may only go from home to school and back during their quarantine.

Students and staff will be tested in the morning before entering the classroom.

Quarantined students are not permitted to ride the school bus in the morning to curb potential exposure.