The Pennsylvania departments of Health and Education recently announced updated recommendations for K-12 schools on social distancing in classrooms and how to handle COVID-19 cases in school buildings.
Aligning with CDC recommendations, Pennsylvania students may now be at least 3 feet apart in classrooms. The previous requirement was 6 feet. Universal masking remains a requirement. This recommendation goes into effect April 5.
In elementary schools, students should be at least 3 feet apart. In middle and high schools, students should be at least 3 feet apart in counties with low and moderate community transmission. In substantial counties, they should be 6 feet apart if cohorting is not possible.
Six feet of distance should be maintained in the following settings:
– Between adults in the school building (teachers and staff) and between adults and students
– When masks can’t be worn, such as when eating
– During activities when increased exhalation occurs, such as singing, shouting, band, or sports and exercise; these activities should be moved outdoors or to large, well-ventilated spaces
– In common areas such as school lobbies and auditoriums
“The department continues its efforts to work with schools to provide guidance when a case occurs,” said COVID-19 Response Director Wendy Braund. “This includes actions related to cleaning and disinfecting, isolation and quarantine recommendations, and actions to recommend the closure of schools or school buildings. We continue to encourage districts to use the percent positivity in counties, as well as the number of cases in a school, in the decision making process as we all work to keep Pennsylvania children safe and in school.”
The departments also updated recommendations on how school entities should handle confirmed cases of COVID-19 in school buildings. The recommendations consider the level of community transmission in each county, the number of cases among students and staff in each school building during the past 14 days, and the size of the school building.
For example, the recommendation for closures to in-person learning in some instances is reduced to 1-2 days from 3-7 days and 5 days from 14 days. The closures allow for cleaning and for public health staff to direct close contacts to quarantine.
A chart with updated recommendations is available here.
“Our updated recommendations bring us a step closer to a full return to in-person teaching and learning across Pennsylvania,” said Acting Secretary of Education Noe Ortega. “While recommendations on physical distancing, closures and quarantines may have changed, the importance to adhering to all health and safety guidelines has not – it is imperative that we remain committed to protecting our students, teachers and staff.”
