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The CDC has updated considerations for schools to aid administrators as they work to return to in-person learning.

The health and safety of students, teachers, staff, their families and the supporting community are a primary concern. The CDC recommends that schools:

1. Promote behaviors that reduce the spread of COVID-19
2. Maintain healthy environments
3. Maintain healthy operations
4. Have plans in place for when someone gets sick

We also recommend considering PCR testing or lab-based antigen testing to help your school, teachers, and classrooms make data-driven decisions for returning to and during in-person learning.

This is meant to supplement – not replace – any federal, state, local, territorial, or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations. Updated as of March 25, 2021.
 

Masks​​​​​​​

• Teach and reinforce the consistent and correct use of masks. The use of masks is one of many important mitigation strategies to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Masks offer some protection to the wearer and are also meant to protect others, in case the wearer is infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Masks are not Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (e.g., respirators).
• Masks are recommended as a simple barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and onto other people when the person wearing the mask coughs, sneezes, talks, or raises their voice. This is called source control.
• Consistent and correct use of masks is most important when students, teachers, and staff are indoors and when social distancing is difficult to implement or maintain. Individuals should be frequently reminded not to touch the face covering or mask and to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer frequently. Information should be provided to staff, students, and students’ families on proper use, removal, and washing of masks.
• Masks should not be placed on:
  • Children younger than 2 years old
  • Anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious
  • Anyone who is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance
• Consistent and correct use of masks may be challenging for some students, teachers, and staff, including:
  • Younger students, such as those in early elementary school (Pre-K through 3^rd grade).
  • Students, teachers, and staff with severe asthma or other breathing difficulties.
  • Students, teachers, and staff with special educational or healthcare needs, including intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, and sensory concerns or tactile sensitivity.

• While masks are strongly encouraged to reduce the spread of COVID-19, CDC recognizes there are specific instances when wearing a mask may not be feasible. In these instances, parents, guardians, caregivers, teachers, staff, and school administrators should consider adaptations and alternatives whenever possible. They may need to consult with healthcare providers for advice about wearing masks.
• People who are deaf or hard of hearing—or those who care for or interact with a person who is hearing impaired—may be unable to wear masks if they rely on lipreading to communicate. This may be particularly relevant for faculty or staff teaching or working with students who may be deaf or hard of hearing. In this situation, consider using a clear mask that covers the nose and wraps securely around the face. If a clear mask isn’t available, consider whether faculty and staff can use written communication (including closed captioning) and decrease background noise to improve communication while wearing a mask that blocks your lips.
• In addition to those who interact with people who are deaf or hard of hearing, the following groups of teachers and staff may also consider using clear masks:
  • Teachers of young students (e.g., teaching young students to read).
  • Teachers of students who are English language learners
  • Teachers of students with disabilities
• Clear masks should be determined not to cause any breathing difficulties or over heating for the wearer. Clear masks are not face shields. CDC does not recommend use of face shields for normal everyday activities or as a substitute for masks because of a lack of evidence of their effectiveness to control the spread of the virus from the source for source control.

The CDC suggests that people with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny notes
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

This is not an exhaustive list, as people with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms that may appear between 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. If a person has these symptoms, consult your doctor or request a Pixel by Labcorp^® home collection kit.
 

Emergency Warning Signs*

If a person is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone

*This is not a list of all possible symptoms. Contact your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to your staff, teachers, or your students.