Dear Northwest Community,

This letter is to inform you that we were notified that twenty-two (22) students and two (2) staff members who were last
present at Northwest High School on Friday, December 17 have tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Following Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) guidelines, we notified individuals
who were known to have close contact with this individual and have informed them to quarantine and monitor for
symptoms, per CDC guidelines.

Per current DHHS guidance and our contact tracing process, unless you are notified directly, your child does not need to
quarantine as they were not in close contact with the person who tested positive for COVID-19. Please visit
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tracing-plan/appendix.html#contact for
additional information on how the CDC, MCPS and DHHS, defines and identifies close contacts.

We encourage you to closely monitor your child for symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, headache, and
shortness of breath. If your child develops any of these symptoms, do not send them to school. You should contact
your healthcare provider and have your child tested for COVID-19. Please contact the school if your child develops
COVID-19-like symptoms. Students who develop symptoms, or test positive for COVID-19, will not be able to return to
the building until they are medically cleared.

As a reminder, here are the steps that we can all take to keep ourselves, families, and school community safe:
Get vaccinated when eligible
Wear a mask, or appropriate face covering, at all times when in school and other public spaces.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially before and after eating.
Cover your cough and/or sneeze and immediately wash your hands for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.
Stay home if you are sick or have any COVID-19 symptoms.

Please visit https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/coronavirus and https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/
for additional information on COVID-19 resources, including free COVID-19 testing and COVID-19 vaccination sites.

We appreciate your cooperation as we work to maintain a safe and healthy school environment.