COVID SaferSchools App Question No. 14: In the previous two weeks, have you ever attended a high-risk gathering? “High-risk gathering” is outlined as one which has EITHER of those options: takes place indoors OR has a length of greater than two hours.

Dear Head of School,

This morning, we answered a query on the COVID SaferSchools App actually, and our reply elicited a flashing Red Stop Sign. This implies that Trevor and Scarlett can’t return to college, regardless of their latest damaging COVID assessments. Our household locations a premium on honesty and we don’t assume Trevor and Scarlett ought to be punished for that.

We hadn’t seen Granny Mabel and Grampy Henry in additional than 13 months—and it was Granny’s eightieth, and we didn’t need to miss one other necessary birthday. We deliberate to sit outdoors, however Hurricane Jeremy had different concepts. Fortunately, we had a strong backup plan.

We intend to maintain answering the app questions candidly, which implies that the children will proceed to get the Red Stop Sign for the following two weeks. Respectfully, the COVID SaferSchools App has no nuance.

Trevor and Scarlett’s beloved grandparents travelled a great distance and quarantined in a resort for a lot of days earlier than coming into our house for 5 hours, which the App considers “high risk.” But I don’t assume that it was and I don’t assume it ought to disqualify the kids from attending college, and right here’s why:

1. Granny and Grampy are each absolutely vaccinated. My husband and I’ve acquired our first pictures. Everyone in attendance examined damaging for COVID beforehand. The youngsters are usually not vaccinated, however we saved them on the opposite aspect of the room, separated from the adults by thick Plexiglas.

2. We solely hugged each other twice—as soon as when the grandparents arrived and once more once they left. Before each hugs, we suited up in full P.P.E., together with N95s lined by material masks lined by face shields.

3. We by no means eliminated our masks, even whereas consuming and ingesting. It seems you can puree something—even pizza and birthday cake. You simply want sturdy straws.

4. We printed present pictures of the underside half of the children’ faces on their material masks in order that Granny and Grampy might see what they appear to be now with out them ever having to decrease their masks.

5. In addition to double masks and face shields, Granny and Grampy wore previous sweatsuits over their precise garments on the aircraft. Once they disembarked, they eliminated the sweatsuits, positioned them in paper baggage, and burned them in metallic trash cans within the airport parking construction.

6. We couldn’t open home windows, due to the hurricane, however we saved followers going throughout the go to. Each member of the family had his or her personal megaphone in order that Granny and Grampy might hear what we have been saying regardless of the threefold problem of masks, gale-force winds, and delight that has prevented the acquisition of much-needed listening to aids.

7. We positioned hand-sanitizing stations on the porch, contained in the entrance door, and all through the home, together with signage laying out our “no excuses” hand-sanitizing coverage.

8. Granny and Grampy had unique use of the porta-potty, which we put in on the entrance garden in order that they by no means had to use a toilet inside. The ties that we used to maintain the porta-potty from blowing away proved to be helpful handrails.

9. Everyone signed a waiver earlier than we gathered. We documented the complete occasion with the assistance of our sensible doorbell, which we solely just lately found has been conspiring with our sensible smoke detectors to observe our each transfer. This implies that the birthday celebration has been recorded from a number of angles—so that you don’t have to take my phrase for it, there’s proof.

10. The evening after Granny and Grampy left, we fumigated the home and slept in our automotive.

If the COVID SaferSchools App weren’t so unyielding in its rush to judgment, I’m positive it will perceive the nice pains we took to make this particular gathering protected, enjoyable, and variant-proof—and it will agree that Trevor and Scarlett deserve the Green Light to return to college!

I don’t need to title names, however there are households who’re clearly not answering the app questions actually, and I’d be very happy to talk about that offline.

Sincerely,

Trevor and Scarlett’s Mom