K- 12 Education – Coronavirus

Note: As of February 12, 2021, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a new Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools to incorporate the best available evidence at this time. The indicators and thresholds in the operational strategy replace the former core indicators in the Indicators for Dynamic School Decision-Making. VDH is reviewing this new operational strategy and revisions to this page are forthcoming. Users can visit the CDC COVID Data Tracker-County View for county level data until this page is updated. Please see the CDC's updated K-12 mitigation toolkit for additional resources.

During the COVID-19 epidemic, school districts have needed to balance the potential risk of COVID-19 transmission and the educational needs of children K-12, who learn best in the classroom. VDH believes decisions on whether to teach children in-person or virtually are best made locally. Local school administrators best know the needs of their community and their schools’ capacity to carry out virtual education or manage the additional space and equipment necessary for in-person classes. To help school districts make these decisions, VDH and the Department of Education have updated Interim Guidance for K-12 School Reopening. VDH recommends schools use the CDC Indicators for Dynamic School Decision-Making jointly with the Interim Guidance for K-12 School Reopening document to inform decisions about school operations with regard to COVID-19.

Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has developed comprehensive guidance to aid schools in planning for a return to in-person instruction and activities. “Recover, Redesign, Restart” is available at doe.virginia.gov. 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

Parents play an important role in working with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to prevent COVID-19 from entering the school setting and help slow transmission of COVID-19 in our communities. Learn more about how to prepare and what to expect when working with VDH. The resources below explain what contact tracing is, and how it applies to the school environment, and the difference between isolation and quarantine. There are also several resources to help parents know when to keep a child home from school based on symptoms of COVID-19 or exposure to a person who has COVID-19. Reach out to your pediatrician's office, your school nurse, or the local health department for help using these resources.

VDH Isolation and Quarantine - What's the Difference Infographic:
- English (2/16/21- translations pending)
VDH Guideline: When Should a Child Stay Home from School and/or Child Care?
- E nglish, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Arabic (12/11/20 - translations posted 1/4/2020)
VDH Guideline: When Should a Child Stay Home from School and/or Child Care? Infographics Only
- English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Arabic (12/11/20 - translations posted 1/4/2020)
VDH Algorithm for Evaluating a Child with COVID-19 Symptoms or Exposures
- 1-pager: English, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Spanish (12/8/20 - translations posted 12/30/20)
- 2-pager: English, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Spanish (12/8/20 - translations posted 12/30/20)
Contact Tracing for COVID-19 in K-12 Schools: How to Prepare and What to Expect Document (2/19/21)
- Infographic Only: English (2/19/21 - translations pending)
VDH When to End Isolation or Quarantine:
- English, Arabic, Spanish, Korean, Chinese (12/7/20 - translations posted 12/21/20)

Learn how to talk with children about COVID-19:

It is important to have open and honest conversations with children about the role they play in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and the changes they may expect this school year. Learn more about how to talk to children about COVID-19 here.

Considerations for decisions regarding the new school year:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided guidance documents to help families make decisions regarding sending their children back to school this year (more information here), and how to keep children safe and healthy while school is out (more information here). Additionally, a checklist intended to help parents, guardians, and caregivers plan and prepare for the upcoming school year is available here.

For information about participation in recreational sports, visit VDH Considerations for Recreational Sports.

For more information about participation in performing arts, see the VDH Guidance for Performing Arts (9/18/20).

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C)

While children do not appear to be at higher risk for COVID-19 than adults, VDH, CDC and other public health staff are investigating Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in children (MIS-C) linked to COVID-19. MIS-C may cause problems with a child’s heart and other systems in the body. Signs and symptoms of MIS-C include fever, belly or gut pain, vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, rash, red or cracked lips, red or bumpy tongue, or swollen hands and feet.

If your child has any of these signs or other symptoms of COVID-19, contact your pediatrician. If your child is showing any emergency warning signs including trouble breathing, pain or pressure in the chest that won’t go away, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, bluish lips or face, severe belly pain, or other concerning signs, seek emergency care right away.

Worker safety and support

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided guidance to help K-12 school staff plan and prepare for a safe return to work. Additionally, the CDC has provided resources on coping with stress and building resilience among the strong emotions surrounding workplace changes due to COVID-19.

Below are resources about public health practice in the K-12 environment, and additional VDH resources:

VDH Isolation and Quarantine - What's the Difference Infographic:
- English (2/16/21- translations pending)
VDH Algorithm for Evaluating Non-Critical Infrastructure Workers with COVID-19 Symptoms or Exposures
- 1-pager: English, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Spanish (12/8/20 - translations posted 12/30/20)
- 3-pager: English, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Spanish (12/8/20 - translations posted 12/30/20)
Contact Tracing for COVID-19 in K-12 Schools: How to Prepare and What to Expect Document (2/19/21)
- Infographic Only: English (2/19/21 - translations pending)
VDH When to End Isolation or Quarantine:
- English, Arabic, Spanish, Korean, Chinese (12/7/20 - translations posted 12/21/20)

Learn how to talk with children about coronavirus disease 2019:

Printable posters 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

Cleaning and disinfecting in school classrooms:

Cleaning and disinfecting are key to limiting exposure to germs and maintaining a safe environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC has provided a guidance document on reducing the spread of germs by keeping surfaces clean and reminding students of the importance of hand hygiene. More on cleaning, disinfection, and hand hygiene in schools can be found here.

Cloth face coverings in school:

COVID-19 can be spread to others even if you do not feel sick. A cloth face covering helps prevent a person who is sick from spreading the virus to others. Appropriate and consistent use of cloth face coverings is most important when students, teachers, and staff are indoors and when social distancing of at least 6 feet is difficult to implement or maintain. There are many considerations for the use of cloth face coverings among K-12 students. The CDC provides guidance for K-12 settings on when cloth face coverings are recommended, when they should not be used, and additional considerations regarding their use.

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. Guidance for accommodations, modifications, and assistance for children and youth with disabilities and special healthcare needs can be found here.

Under the Additional Considerations for the Use of Cloth Face Coverings among K-12 Students heading, the CDC guidance on cloth face coverings also contains information on cloth face coverings 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. Additional information on adaptations and alternatives for when cloth face coverings may not be feasible can be found here.

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.

Signage Toolkits

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

Cleaning

Water Quality

If a building has been closed or unused for a period of time, there is an increased risk of exposure to hazards including Legionella bacteria and lead. Follow the EPA’s guidance for Water Quality in Closed/Reduced-use Buildings to reopen school buildings.

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 EPA’s website on Indoor Air and Coronavirus (COVID-19) has more information about how to reduce potential airborne transmission of COVID-19. The EPA also provides an Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Action Kit. The CDC also offers information on their webpage for Ventilation.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has Guidance for Building Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Technical Resources for the Reopening of Schools and Universities. The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) also has Reopening Guidance for General Office Settings, which may be helpful for school facilities.

Many resources are available to school nurses from professional organizations. The Virginia Association of School Nurses (VASN) has provided a School Health Services Recovery Plan for School Clinics, which is available on their website. The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) website also provides resources specific to COVID-19. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) also provide guidance, information, and other tools that are helpful to school nurses. An overview of the Core Principles for School Nurses can be found here, and more information for school nurses can be found at the DOE's School Health Services website.

Information about public health practice for COVID-19

VDH Isolation and Quarantine - What's the Difference Infographic:
- English (2/16/21- translations pending)
Information for School Nurses and Other Healthcare Personnel (HCP) Working in Schools and Child Care Settings (CDC)
CDC Interim Considerations for Testing for K-12 School Administrators and Public Health Officials (10/13/20)
Role of VDH and K-12 Schools in COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Efforts (VDH) (12/13/20)
Case Investigation and Contact Tracing for K-12 Schools (VDH) (2/19/21)
- Contact Tracing Overview (VDH)
VDH When to End Isolation or Quarantine:
- English, Arabic, Spanish, Korean, Chinese (12/7/20 - translations posted 12/21/20)

Information about school procedures during COVID-19

Health Screening

The Operations Section of the Recover, Redesign, Restart guide provides detailed considerations for schools in developing policies for health screenings. Schools should strongly encourage families, faculty, and staff to self-monitor their signs/symptoms 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
VDH Guideline: When Should a Child Stay Home from School and/or Child Care?
- E nglish, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Arabic (12/11/20 - translations posted 1/4/2020)
VDH Guideline: When Should a Child Stay Home from School and/or Child Care? Infographics Only
- English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Arabic (12/11/20 - translations posted 1/4/2020)
VDH Algorithm for Evaluating a Child with COVID-19 Symptoms or Exposures
- 1-pager: English, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Spanish (12/8/20 - translations posted 12/30/20)
- 2-pager: English, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Spanish (12/8/20 - translations posted 12/30/20)
Sample health screenings are available from VDOE in English
Sample health entrance questionnaires are available from VDOE in English and Spanish
Sample home health screening questionnaire for students in English

Immunization and School Physicals

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Cloth Face Coverings

Current data suggest person-to-person transmission most commonly occurs during close exposure to a person infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. More information about infection prevention in healthcare settings can be found here.

Face Covering/Masks

Fit Testing of N-95 Masks Procedure

How do I get Fit Tested for an N-95 Mask?

Contact your Medical Reserve Corp unit regarding fit testing

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

Considerations for Opening Schools

The CDC has developed a checklist to help schools evaluate their ability to implement these mitigation measures.
Considerations for Monitoring and Evaluating of Mitigation Strategies (CDC)
Considerations for Schools (CDC)
Decision Tree for Schools Reopening (CDC)
Guidance available here is for K-12 school administrators who are preparing for students, teachers, and staff to return to school in fall 2020.
Guidance available here provides K-12 school administrators with strategies to encourage students to wear face coverings, consistent with CDC guidance, while maintaining a positive learning environment.

Public Health Guidance for Schools

Role of VDH and K-12 Schools in COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Efforts (VDH) (12/13/20)
VDH Guidance for Public Health Prioritization of COVID-19 Point Prevalence Surveys (8/19/20)
Case Investigation and Contact Tracing for K-12 Schools (VDH) (2/19/21)
VDH Guidance for Performing Arts (9/18/20)
(NEW) VDH Interim Recommendations for the Safe Operation of Libraries (2/25/21)

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).

The Emergency Temporary Standard also provides that “The employer shall notify the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry within 24 hours of the discovery of three (3) or more employees present at the place of employment within a 14-day period testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus during that 14-day time period.”

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

Template Letter - Positive case with exposure in school (2/19/21)
Template Letter - Positive case with no exposure in school (2/19/21)

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.
COVID-19 One-Stop Shop Communication Toolkits (CDC)
COVID Related Videos/PSA's (CDC)
Print-ready resources (CDC)
Hygiene-related Posters (CDC)
Handwashing Activities for Children