CDC COVID-19 Prevention Guidance for K-12 Schools

Due to growing uncertainty over COVID-19 variants such as Delta and COVID-19 infections surging again in the United States, the CDC recently updated its guidelines for K-12 schools.

While children are encouraged to return to full-time in-person learning this fall, the new CDC guidance recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.

Research shows that students benefit greatly from in-person learning. Schools are fun, safe environments for learning social and emotional development that enhance essential life skills.

Nonetheless, many schools serve children under the age of 12 who are not yet qualified to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, which might make going back to school the “normal way” look different this year.

Here’s a summary of the new CDC guidelines for K-12 schools:

· Masks should be worn indoors by all individuals (age 2 and older) who are not fully vaccinated

· CDC recommends schools maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within classrooms

· Students, teachers, and staff should stay home when they have signs of any infectious illness and be referred to their healthcare provider for testing and care

·Preventing Strategies: These preventing strategies have been put in place to protect students, teachers, staff, and those who are not fully vaccinated in areas with moderate to high transmission levels. These strategies may vary based on community transmission level, vaccination coverage, and local policies and regulations:

o   Promoting Vaccination: Vaccination is one of the major prevention strategies to end the COVID-19 pandemic, and to help schools safely resume operations

o   Consistent and Correct Mask Use: Consistent and proper use of mask indoor can reduce the spread of COVID-19, and protects those who are not fully vaccinated

o   Physical Distancing: Schools with students not fully vaccinated should implement physical distancing indoors, however, schools should not exclude students from in-person learning to keep a minimum distance requirement

o   Screening Testing: Screening testing helps identify infected people (with or without symptoms) who may be contagious, and prevents further transmission

o   Ventilation: Ventilation methods such as opening multiple doors and windows or using child-safe fans can reduce the number of virus particle in the air, thus preventing the spread of viruses

o   Handwashing and respiratory etiquette: Reinforcing handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, along with respiratory etiquette such as covering coughs and sneezes, can make a big difference in spreading infectious diseases such as COVID-19

o   Staying home when sick and getting tested is essential to keep COVID-19 infections out of schools and to prevent spread to others

o   Contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine: School officials should notify students, teachers, staff, and family members that someone in school has tested positive for COVID-19, within the same day if possible, and if applicable by local and privacy laws

o   Cleaning and disinfecting: Cleaning at least once a day should be sufficiently enough to remove potential virus that may stay on hard surfaces

For more information regarding CDC guidelines for schools, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html

Source: CDC Website