The CDC today released new guidance for schools this fall that calls for continued masking, cohorting, and physical distancing when feasible for unvaccinated students and staff.
Read the full CDC guidance for schools here. Further Connecticut specific guidance is expected from the State Departments of Public Health and Education.
“Educators know that in-person learning is best for all students, and that’s why CEA has been at the forefront of ensuring safe teaching and learning environments for our students and teachers,” said CEA President Jeff Leake. “Safety is and must remain a top priority as we return to all in-person classes in the fall, and we urge all school districts to follow the CDC’s new guidance to ensure that everyone in our school communities is safe.”
He continued, “The new guidelines underscore the need for consistent prevention strategies in school settings, especially those with unvaccinated individuals, and strategies include mask wearing, social distancing, hand washing, cleaning protocols, and adequate ventilation to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our schools. We must all work together to advocate for policies that prioritize safety, especially for our most vulnerable students.”
“The CDC’s latest guidance provides an important roadmap for reducing the risk of COVID-19 in schools,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “And it is up to all of us in communities across the country to make it possible for all school buildings to be fully open, to stay open, and for all students, staff, and families to remain healthy.”
She added, “As the delta variant spreads in many parts of the country and infections are increasing in younger people, it is particularly important that politicians, community leaders, parents, and educators work together to ensure that we all do our part. Everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated should get their COVID-19 vaccination. This is the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and each other, and especially to protect those who cannot yet be vaccinated, including children under 12…. It is important that we pay attention to the unique needs of all our schools and the communities they serve. We have a responsibility as a country to address the disproportionate burden suffered throughout this pandemic by communities of color, which has contributed to families being unable or reticent to have their children return to in-person instruction.”
