Jan. 3, 2021
Our school district, and the State of Oregon, has prioritized ensuring that every student is able to attend school in person for the entire school year. As we return to class after Winter Break and face new challenges such as the fast-spreading Omicron variant, here are some reminders of actions we can take to do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19 -- and help keep our schools safe and open.
“Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) have recommended layered health and safety measures for the protection of all children and staff in Oregon schools. How much protection do these measures provide? Every layer matters.” Read more.
The following evidence-based COVID prevention practices are in place in our schools, but we must all work together to continue to make this layered strategy work.
- Vaccinations and boosters;
- COVID testing;
- Proper use of face coverings;
- Physical distancing;
- Handwashing;
- Maintaining cohorts;
- Isolation when an individual is sick;
- Quarantine when an individual is exposed;
- Cleaning and disinfection of shared items;
- and Maintaining good airflow and circulation in indoor spaces.
You may be aware that over Winter Break the CDC updated isolation and quarantine guidance to a shorter period of time, as few as 5-days under certain circumstances. Our schools already had the ability for students to “test to stay” if they had close contact with a confirmed positive case.
These latest CDC (and OHA) updates may shorten the isolation time for a student who does test positive. This will help us maximize in-person learning and extracurricular activities for students.
Let's keep working together to make this a healthy and safe New Year!