The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released updated guidance on July 23 for the reopening of public schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. The updated plan stresses the importance of in-person learning. New items include recommending that schools group students and teachers into isolated cohorts or “pods” meant to limit in-person contact. There is also a checklist intended to assist parents in deciding whether to send their children to school. A new mask guidance document suggests masks can be worn by anyone older than two years old, though some groups of students may need special adaptations and alternatives. The guidance recommends tying operational decisions to local epidemiological conditions. The guidance also states the following:
“Schools should be prepared for COVID-19 cases and exposure to occur in their facilities. Collaborating with local health officials will continue to be important once students are back to school, as they can provide regular updates about the status of COVID-19 in the community and help support and maintain the health and wellbeing of students, teachers, and staff.”
