K-12 Education

On July 27, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated their K-12 school mask recommendations in response to emerging data about the Delta variant. CDC recommends universal masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools regardless of vaccination status.

On August 12, 2021, State Health Commissioner Dr. M. Norman Oliver issued a Public Health Order requiring all students, teachers, staff, and visitors in K-12 schools aged two years and older to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status. All Virginia public and private K-12 schools (including PreK classrooms) must implement a requirement that students, teachers, and staff wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Please refer the Frequently Asked Questions for more information regarding this Public Health Order.

Schools should follow Interim Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in Virginia PreK-12 Schools (UPDATED 09/16/21). This guidance emphasizes several key prevention strategies, including vaccination, masking, physical distancing, screening testing, ventilation, hand hygiene, cleaning, staying home when sick, and prompt contact tracing once any cases are identified. Of all available prevention strategies, vaccination, masking, and physical distancing should be prioritized.

CDC Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools (08/05/21)
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Guidance for Safe Schools (7/18/21)

More information about schools and COVID-19 can be found on the VDH FAQs webpage and the DOE FAQs webpage.

Resources for Parents and Students

Resources for Teachers

Resources for School Facilities

Resources for School Nurses

Resources for School Administrators

Educational Resources

VDH in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Education has prepared some helpful resources to keep children healthy this summer and to prepare them to go back to school in the fall, whether in-person or online. For additional information regarding recommendations and policies about COVID-19, immunizations, and other information including child well visits, routine oral health, and mental health resources for your child, visit VDH's Back to School Safety Guide webpage. Other resources for parents include:

CDC Know What to Expect at your Child's K-12 School or Child Care Program
Tips for a Safe and Healthy Summer Break (5/14/2021): English, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese
(UPDATED) VDH Guideline: When Should a Child Stay Home from School and/or Child Care? (9/15/21 - translations pending)
(UPDATED) VDH Guideline: When Should a Child Stay Home from School and/or Child Care? Infographics Only (9/15/21 - translations pending)
VDH Algorithm for Evaluating a Child with COVID-19 Symptoms or Exposures
- (UPDATED) 1-pager: English (9/15/21 - translations pending)
Contact Tracing Process for K-12 (8/6/21)
- Translations pending
VDH Isolation and Quarantine - What's the Difference Infographic (8/19/21)
- Translations pending
(UPDATED) VDH When to End Isolation or Quarantine - English (9/14/21)
- Translations pending
(NEW) Clarification of VDH K-12 Close Contact Definitions and Quarantine Periods (9/10/21)
VDH COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ's (07/28/2021)

As communities and schools begin or continue to offer in-person K12 instruction, mitigation strategies are important both in school and in the surrounding community. VDH offers the following information to help assess the risk of certain activities and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

VDH Guidance for Performing Arts (09/22/2021)

VDH Considerations for Recreational Sports

AAP Sports and Physical Activities Guidance (09/20/2021)

Printable and Resources for your classroom:

Class Rules for COVID-19	Don’t Let Your Germs Go For a Ride
Don’t Feel Well?	Keep Space Between You and Others
Wash Your Hands	Germs Are All Around You
Did You Wash Your Hands	Cover Coughs and Sneezes
Handwashing Is Your Superpower Boy/Girl	Stop the Spread
COVID-19 Signage and Printables	CDC Classroom Set Up Guide

Additional Considerations for Students with Disabilities or Special Healthcare Needs:

A customized and individualized approach for COVID-19 may be necessary for some children and youth. Under the Mask Alternatives heading, the CDC guidance on masks also contains information on masks for students who are deaf, hard of hearing, or rely on lip reading to communicate, students who have a disability, childhood mental health condition, or sensory concern, and students who are receiving one-on-one services or instruction.

The CDC provides guidance for direct service providers such as personal care attendants, direct support professionals, paraprofessionals, therapists, and others who may need to consider additional protective measures.

Worker Safety and Support

Virginia Department of Labor and Industry Final Standard for Infectious Disease Prevention

Resources on coping with stress and building resilience among the strong emotions surrounding workplace changes due to COVID-19.

Signage Toolkits

School Safety Signs:
- English, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese
Signage Toolkit for Physical Distance Requirements:
- English, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese
COVID-19 Signage Toolkit

Cleaning

HVAC/Indoor Air Quality

More research is needed to determine how much of a role aerosol transmission plays in spreading COVID-19. Increasing ventilation in indoor spaces is one way to reduce potential spread by this route. The following resources offer information on how to reduce potential airborne risk of COVID-19.

Many resources are available to school nurses, including resources specific to COVID-19, from professional organizations:

Information about public health practice for COVID-19

Role of VDH and K-12 Schools in COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Efforts (5/27/21)
VDH Case Investigation and Contact Tracing for K-12 Schools (8/19/21)
VDH Contact Tracing Overview
VDH Isolation and Quarantine - What's the Difference Infographic (8/19/21)
- Translations pending
(UPDATED)VDH When to End Isolation or Quarantine - English (9/14/21)
- Translations pending

Information about school procedures during COVID-19

Health Screening

Families, faculty, and staff should self-monitor signs/symptoms of COVID-19 and stay home when ill. Health screenings can be achieved via different methods, and the CDC provides guidance to K-12 schools on COVID-19 symptom screening as part of a school reopening process.

VDH Resources
(UPDATED) VDH Algorithm for Evaluating a Child with COVID-19 Symptoms or Exposures (9/15/21)
(UPDATED) VDH Guideline: When Should a Child Stay Home from School and/or Child Care? (9/15/21)
(UPDATED) VDH Guideline: When Should a Child Stay Home from School and/or Child Care? Infographics Only (9/15/21)
VDOE sample health screening
VDOE sample health entrance questionnaires. Spanish version here
CDC sample home health screening questionnaire for students
VDH Health Screening, Monitoring, and Testing (2/24/21)

Immunization and School Physicals

Infection Control

Current data suggest person-to-person transmission most commonly occurs during close exposure to a person infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.

CDC recommends that healthcare personnel in schools and child care settings, including school nurses, follow the Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel. VDH provides similar information about infection prevention in healthcare settings, found here.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Mask Considerations (CDC)*
Using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Understanding the Difference Between Surgical Mask and N-95 Masks
OSHA N-95 Fit Testing Videos
Contact your Medical Reserve Corp unit regarding fit testing
Considerations for children with asthma in schools during COVID-19 (search “asthma”)

Professional Development for School Nurses

Sign up for NEW School Health/Nurse Listserv (2020-21) to receive the most updated school health information.
COVID-19 Education Modules
Professional Development for VA School Nurses
COVID-19 Johns Hopkins Contact Tracing Course
ASTHO Contact Tracing Course

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a rare but serious complication associated with COVID-19. In MIS-C, parts of the body can become inflamed, such as the heart, lungs, or gastrointestinal organs. While we don’t know exactly what causes MIS-C, many children with MIS-C had COVID-19 infection and it seems to develop a few weeks following infection. Prompt recognition and treatment are very important. Children with MIS-C may have a fever and other symptoms, including belly pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes, or feeling extra tired.

Call your child’s doctor, nurse, or clinic right away if your child is showing symptoms of COVID-19 or MIS-C. Seek emergency care right away if your child is showing any of these emergency warning signs or other concerning signs: trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure that won’t away, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, bluish lips, nails, or face, severe belly pain.

Considerations for Opening Schools

U.S. Department of Education COVID-19 Handbook volume 1 and volume 2
CDC checklist for school transmission prevention measures
CDC Toolkit for Responding to COVID-19 Cases
CDC Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools
CDC strategies to encourage students to wear masks
CDC Classroom Physical Distance

Public Health Guidance for Schools

Role of VDH and K-12 Schools in COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Efforts (8/26/21)
VDH Case Investigation and Contact Tracing for K-12 Schools (8/19/21)
VDH Interim Recommendations for the Safe Operation of Libraries (5/21/21)
VDH Guidance for Performing Arts (9/22/2021)

Reporting Requirements

The new COVID-19 standard adopted by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry requires all employers to report positive cases of COVID-19 to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).

COVID-19 case reports must be filed through the Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) online reporting portal. By using this portal, these case reports will ensure VDH and DOLI reporting compliance. The new online reporting portal allows employers to submit up to 10 COVID-19 positive cases.

Template Letters

(UPDATED) Template Letter from Daycare/School: COVID-19 Exposure (9/13/21)
(UPDATED) Template Letter from Daycare/School: COVID-19 Case (9/13/21)
(UPDATED) Template Letter from Daycare/School: COVID-19 Outbreak (9/13/21)

Additional Resources

A tabletop training exercise developed in collaboration between VDH and DOE is a scenario-based training for K-12 schools. Links can be found here.

Communication and Signage

The VDH Signage Toolkits for Businesses includes signage to promote hand hygiene, physical distancing, and to encourage mask use.
CDC COVID-19 One-Stop Shop Communication Toolkits
CDC COVID Related Videos/PSA's
CDC Print-ready resources
CDC Hygiene-related Posters
Handwashing Activities for Children

Interim Guidance (Updated 09/16/21)

School Metrics Dashboard

Vaccinations

Community Testing

K-12 School Testing