Dear Wooster Community,
I'm writing on the heels of having just sent out a letter noting multiple COVID-19 positives among community members over the last week. An uptick in infections is very much in line with what we are seeing outside the school, and around the country, and is likely the result of holiday gatherings and the evolution of more infectious variants. As we all process this latest stage of the pandemic, and look forward to the start of our holiday break, it is helpful to keep a few things in mind.
First, with rare exceptions, the Wooster community is fully vaccinated, with those eligible also now receiving the booster in increasing numbers. This is our most powerful line of defense, and together we've made it a strong one. Today's news held numerous reports of positive data from research into the effectiveness of boosters in combating the severity of infection, particularly with variants. The overwhelming evidence continues to point to the efficacy and effectiveness of vaccines in general. Unfortunately, we also continue to see that the vast majority of people experiencing very serious symptoms are unvaccinated.
When we began the school year we were committed to staying safe while learning to live with this disease and we are continuing to do just that. So, the second thing for all of us to remember, and to remind our children about, is that the secondary levels of mitigation are still just as important -- mask wearing when inside public (or school) spaces, hand hygiene, and awareness of those among us who are most vulnerable, even if vaccinated.
Finally, we need to continue to monitor ourselves and our children's health, and communicate when we don't feel well. If we feel sick, we need to say so and stay home until our symptoms subside and/or we can be tested when appropriate. Remember that we are no longer quarantining vaccinated close contacts unless they are experiencing symptoms or test positive. I also hope that we are moving beyond the feeling that having contracted COVID-19 is a bad thing, or something to hide. We should neither ignore it nor take it lightly, but it is now a part of our lives and none of us who are taking the proper steps to mitigate its spread and effects should feel bad or ashamed if we catch this very infectious disease. We shouldn't make others feel that way either.
As we have said all along, we are in this together and this community has done wonders to weather this storm without losing its focus on learning together while also caring for each other. As we watch the numbers rise around us, we can take comfort in the fact that we are all far better protected than before. So let's keep doing the right things and the rest will take care of itself.
Be well,
Matt Byrnes
Head of School