To the Editor:
As a public-health professional, I am generally a supporter of the guidance provided by the Albany County Department of Health. I believe that masks play a role in preventing the spread of coronavirus. I believe that vaccines are the most important part of a layered model of prevention. I believe that isolation and quarantine are also essential.

With that being said, I think our current quarantining situation is out of control. Last week, our school district saw 173 students quarantined, and 23 positive cases spread among the seven school buildings. Most school buildings reported one to two cases.

There are varying schools of thought on the meaning of these numbers:

— 1. The relatively low number of actual cases means that quarantining so many students is working;

— 2. Transmission isn’t actually taking place in the schools, so perhaps we should consider a different process.

I think we need to consider the latter.

We’ve known for several months now that, in general, the rates of in-school transmission of COVID-19 are low — particularly in schools with masking requirements. We also know that in-person learning is essential, as is the socialization of our children.

Additionally, we are all aware of the huge impact that having a child in quarantine can have on working families.

Therefore, I think the time has come for the Albany County Department of Health to move to the model used by other counties in New York State, and afford an opportunity for quarantined students to “test-out.” Having an asymptomatic, masked child, who has tested negative, back in the classroom makes sense and is safe.

Doing so can help get our kids back in school where they belong and ease some of the tremendous stress forced upon families and school nurses and school administrators. ACDOH: Throw us a bone please. The current plan is not sustainable and may be causing more harm than good.

Blanca Gonzalez-Parker

Guilderland

Editor’s note: Although Blanca Gonzalez-Parker is a member of the Guilderland School Board, she stresses that she did not write this letter in that role. Rather, she wrote as a nurse, public-health professional, volunteer vaccinator, COVID-19 cse investigator, and work parent.