Health and Safety During Covid-19
Safety First!
The Hun School is operating in-person, with a normal daily academic schedule and full roster of extracurricular activities.
In order to provide the safest and best possible experience for our community, some protocols and restrictions remain in place and others may come and go throughout the year -- reflective of community and regional case rates.
VACCINE REQUIREMENTS
All eligible students and employees are required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Individuals who are ineligible due to medical contraindication or sincerely held religious objection, should contact the Health Center to discuss their obligations. All others must file proof of vaccination with the Health Office through the Magnus Health Portal. We will accept any CDC or WHO approved vaccine.
If your student has ever experienced a severe side effect from a previous vaccination, please contact your health care provider to determine the best setting in which to receive your vaccine.
The Pfizer vaccine is FDA authorized for students aged six months and up and is administered in two doses, three weeks apart. An individual is considered fully vaccinated two weeks from the date of their second dose.
NEWS ABOUT BOOSTERS
The FDA and CDC have authorized boosters for individuals aged five and up. Boosted individuals are thirty times less likely to contract Covid-19; and breakthrough cases are less severe. All faculty, staff, and students are strongly encouraged to obtain a booster as soon as possible!
“In developing school safety plans ... we need to acknowledge that the risk of COVID19 to any one individual is most influenced by their vaccination status. Vaccination of school staff, students, and family members is the most reliable intervention for ensuring safety during the upcoming school year and quickly returning schools to pre-pandemic activities. Schools with high vaccination rates will navigate this school year much more easily than schools with lower vaccination rates..."Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Policy Lab
WE ARE MASK-OPTIONAL
On March 7, 2022, New Jersey Schools were permitted to adopt a mask optional approach. Therefore, masks are now optional for all Hun community members and campus guests.
Masks are still considered to be one of the best ways to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. Therefore, if you are unvaccinated, have a known exposure, you or a member of your household has underlying health issues, or you are simply more comfortable wearing a mask, you are encouraged to do so. We expect every member of our community to actively and generously respect the personal vulnerability and risk tolerance of their fellow students, faculty, and staff.
The Hun School may encourage masking at certain times: during periods of heightened spread, at large indoor gatherings, such as all school assemblies or at student performances, or during school-related travel.
MASK SELECTION
N95 or KN95 masks are most effective in mitigating the spread of Covid-19. Where masks are required or recommended, individuals are encouraged to wear one of these two mask types and ensure a snug fit that covers the nose and mouth.
Exposure
In consultation with our medical advisors, Hun will focus contact tracing efforts on household or roommate exposures. As a result, you may no longer be advised if an individual in your student’s class or group tests positive.
We continue to support and welcome the self-identification of close contacts by positive individuals. We also want to stress the importance of remaining home when ill, particularly after a known exposure, which remains our single best defense against transmission.
All individuals with a known exposure, regardless of vaccination status should test five-seven days after exposure and should wear a well-fitting mask for ten full days after exposure (including during activities such as athletics).
Symptoms
All students, faculty, and families are encouraged to conduct a daily at home health screening. Any member of our community experiencing any symptom of Covid-19, regardless of vaccination status, should stay home and contact the Health Office.
Positive Case
Regardless of vaccination status, when a student, faculty, or staff member is presumptive or confirmed positive for Covid-19, they should contact the Health Center. Next steps will likely include:
- The individual will immediately begin isolation.
- Individuals determined to be close contacts in a household or dorm setting (within close proximity for fifteen minutes or longer) will be identified.
- As of April 2022, The Hun School adopted a Test to Stay policy for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Test to Stay (TTS) combines contact tracing and serial testing to allow asymptomatic close contacts who meet the criteria for quarantine to continue in-person learning.
The School's Health and Safety protocols are determined in consultation with a multitude of resources: local, state, and federal government advisories; colleges, universities, and fellow international boarding and day schools, with the intention to meet or exceed all federal and state guidelines. For medical expertise, along with our own School physician and health staff, we consult with Dr. Sonja Rasmussen, a professor of pediatrics and epidemiology at the University of Florida and a twenty-year veteran at the Centers for Disease Control. We will continue to rely on their collective guidance, and adjust our plans and procedures as new information is released by the CDC and the New Jersey Department of Health.