From the outset, CEA has been advocating for testing to ensure the health and safety of students, teachers, and their families. CEA’s Safe Learning Plan, released in July, outlines a number of recommendations–including regular COVID testing–needed to keep our school communities safe.
Research has confirmed that regular testing of students for COVID-19 is important for identifying, controlling, and limiting the spread of the virus. But we must also ensure other safety measures and CDC guidelines and protocols are being followed in our schools, including six feet of social distancing at all times, proper ventilation, and continued cleaning. In cases where outbreaks occur or when those safety criteria cannot be met, schools should move to all distance learning to mitigate the spread of the virus.
Connecticut has seen a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases, and the governor has taken additional steps to mitigate the spread and tighten restrictions, including rolling back reopening plans to allow only 50% capacity in venues such as restaurants. We know the governor and education commissioner care deeply about Connecticut families, and that is why when safety is defined as half-capacity or less in our state’s indoor spaces, school communities must be a part of that equation, not an exception to the rule. Our students and teachers deserve to be protected to the same degree as all Connecticut residents.
