Changes to mask policies for students and childcare centers
As you may have heard, the Connecticut Department of Public Health and the Connecticut State Department of Education have updated their mask guidance for pre-K through 12th grade students. They have offered the following documents for schools:
The first guidance document assists schools with transitioning to a model for COVID-19 management that aligns with the state’s public health approach to the routine management of respiratory viral diseases.
The second document includes questions to consider when contemplating potential changes to COVID-19 policies including universal masking in schools or transitioning to “mask-optional” policies. The determination on whether to require masks in schools can be made at the local level effective Feb. 28, 2022.
After speaking with many constituents, it is clear that parents want to have a choice as to whether their child wears a mask while in school. In Newtown, the Board of Education voted to give that choice to families and individual teachers as of Feb. 28. In Monroe, the Board of Education voted Feb. 22 to also give parents that choice on Feb. 28, but students in both towns will be required to wear masks on buses until a federal mandate is lifted.
Before Feb. 28, school districts can also expect to receive additional shipments of self-tests to distribute two kits per student and staff member. Each kit contains two tests. In schools discontinuing universal indoor masking beginning Feb. 28, kits should be used by all staff and students to self-test just prior to the lifting of universal indoor masking. Ideally, one test should be performed at home in the morning prior to leaving for school on the first day optional masking is implemented.
Given the widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines, at-home testing and medications, our communities can begin to transition to these updated models of COVID-19 management. This guidance was shared late on the afternoon of Feb. 18 with all districts and schools throughout the state’s extensive network of superintendents, school medical advisors, school nurses, local school board members, local health directors, and others who make up the school ecosystem.
Additionally, the Office of Early Childhood Development has changed their guidance for child care centers and youth camps. Following the legislature’s recent actions to extend the public health emergency and a number of the governor’s executive orders, the requirement for COVID-19 vaccination and testing by state employees and covered workers in schools and child care facilities was not extended and is no longer in effect as of February 15, 2022.
Although there will no longer be a statewide requirement related to mask wearing for children and staff effective March 1, 2022, individual childcare programs may choose to implement their own mask wearing policies or requirements.
The office also continues to recommend implementing other public health strategies such as social distancing, and monitoring of children’s and staff’s health to help mitigate spread of the disease.
You can read more about the polices published by the Office of Early Childhood Development here:
www.ctoec.org/covid-19/child-care-covid-19-faq/
The guidance documents are posted on the DPH website and can accessed at these links: