The CDC released on Friday, February 12, updated guidance to assist educators in safely reopening schools.
The updated guidelines represent a “measured, data-driven effort to expand on old recommendations and advise school leaders on how to ‘layer’ the most effective safety precautions: masking, physical distancing, hand-washing, respiratory etiquette, ventilation and building cleaning, and contact tracing.”
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told reporters Friday that states should prioritize vaccinating teachers. But she added that safe reopening without vaccinations could be achieved if schools adopted stringent mitigation measures. “The science also shows us that K-12 [primary and secondary] schools that have implemented strict mitigation strategies have been able to safely open for in-person instruction and remain open. And today’s operational strategy provides the road map to do this safely.”
While politicians, parents, and school officials may think this carte blanche to open schools, it is not. “CDC is not mandating that schools reopen,” said Walensky.
On the contrary, the CDC painstakingly explains that even in “hard-hit” communities, proper mitigation can help ensure the safety of students, teachers, and staff. However, it warns that schools can become complacent when there is low community transmission, not realizing that failing to implement recommended protocols such as wearing a mask and social distancing can result in the spread of the virus in the classroom.
The CDC recommendations include a color-coded chart, much like the White House Coronavirus Task Force report, that describes levels of transmission. Blue for low transmission, yellow for moderate, orange for substantial, and red for high transmission.
Schools with low to moderate community transmission are encouraged to consider reopening for full, in-person learning. Schools with moderate community spread may still consider a limited reopening, as long as they “can layer multiple safety strategies in the classroom.” Areas in the red zone may consider the limited opening of elementary schools with physical distancing required, but the CDC recommends middle and high schools be virtual-only unless strict mitigation strategies can be met.
For the complete operational strategy for opening schools, go to https://tinyurl.com/5g5gkffj
