Coronavirus Guidance For College Students Returning Home For Thanksgiving In Lexington

Press release from the Town of Lexington:

November 17, 2020

Many college students will be returning home to Lexington for Thanksgiving to celebrate the holiday, some students may be staying to finish their semester remotely. The virus does not take breaks for holidays. Families should take precautions above and beyond producing a single negative test to keep everyone safe and healthy, such as continuing to wear a mask and social distance.

Massachusetts Travel Order

Everyone who will be returning home to Massachusetts from a higher risk state must get a COVID-19 test. Tests should use a molecular (PCR) SARS-CoV2 on a sample obtained within 72 hours of arrival. Information about where to obtain a test can be found at www.mass.gov/GetTested.

Per the Massachusetts Travel Order, all visitors entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, who do not meet an exemption, are required to:

• Complete the Massachusetts Travel Form prior to arrival, unless you are visiting from a lower-risk state designated by the MA Department of Public Health. As of November 17, lower risk states include New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Hawaii.
• Quarantine for 14 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to your arrival in Massachusetts.
• If your COVID-19 test result has not been received prior to arrival, visitors and residents must quarantine until they receive a negative test result.

Additional Precautions for College Students

It cannot be stressed enough that a negative COVID-19 test alone is not a guarantee of safety for loved ones and the community.

If a student travels for a short period during the holiday, it is highly recommended they still quarantine for 7 days PLUS a negative test, or 14 days without a test. For longer stays, the family should consider added measures, including mask use in the household along with the student spending as much time separated from family members as possible during the 7-14 day period.

College-aged individuals who contract COVID-19 may be asymptomatic, or mildly symptomatic, and may inadvertently infect others. Every returning college student should be tested to catch asymptomatic people before they are able to spread the disease to friends and family during the holidays.

Seeing Friends and Family

Although we understand returning college students are eager to see their friends, we are asking parents to discourage their college-age students from casual socialization with friends indoors and in groups.

It is imperative that students avoid unnecessary contact with others as we enter the cold months and see the number of cases rise rapidly. Masks must also be worn if outdoors per the new Massachusetts guidance which went into effect on November 6.

For the most up to date information on orders and guidelines, visit the State's website.

This press release was produced by the Town of Lexington. The views expressed here are the author’s own.