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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance for Schools

Businesses are strongly encouraged to coordinate with state and local health officials so timely and accurate information can guide appropriate responses. Local conditions will influence the decisions that public health officials make regarding community-level strategies. CDC has guidance for mitigation strategies according to the level of community transmission or impact of COVID-19.

SIA Presents COVID-19 Guidance for Schools and Districts:

A Collection of Guidance for Schools and Districts; Workplace Compliance During COVID-19 Pandemic & Considerations and Best Practices for Reopening Schools

Cover Page - A Collection of Guidance

PDF Document Download - Updated June 18, 2020

Athletics & Activities

Educational Materials Available

 

Federal, state and local authorities:

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Office of the Governor of California - California Coronavirus Response

California Department of Public Health

California Department of Public Health and Cal/OSHA release new guidance for workplace safety during the COVID-19 Pandemic; Office Workspaces – Guide & Checklist

COVID-19 INDUSTRY GUIDANCE: Schools and School-Based Programs - Released: June 5, 2020

Cal/OSHA - Department of Industrial Relations

Cal/OSHA Updates their Interim Guidelines for General Industry on 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Stronger Together: A guidebook for the safe reopening of California’s public schools – Published June 8, 2020 

DIRECTORY OF LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS

 

 
Resources:

Reopening Guidance and Checklists

Education Workplace Reopening Essentials - Alliant

Reopening Guide - checklist for 6 steps - Cushman Wakefield 

 

Essential Functions and Employee Safety:

This section is being updated regularly check back often

Workplace Safety:

Cal/OSHA recommends employers follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), February 2020.  Brochure: Guidance for Protecting Workers from Coronavirus (COVID-19) in General Industry - Cal/OSHA

 

Physical/Social Distancing Tips in the Workplace:

Practice social distancing without exception, even amongst fellow co-workers.  Apply universal precautions and assume everyone an employee may come in contact with has the potential to be infected, even if they do not have symptoms.  Workstations should be set up to include appropriate distancing or space between employees.  There should be at least 6-feet between employees and those they are serving. 

 

Face Coverings & Masks:

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.  Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19 (pdf).  Masks are not Face Coverings - Understanding the Difference - NIOSH

It is critical to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus.  CDC is additionally advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.  Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used.

 

Glove Use Recommendations:

Glove use does not modify or replace hand hygiene requirements.  Hand hygiene such as rubbing with an alcohol-based product or by handwashing with soap and water is the best method to prevent the spread of disease.  

Wear gloves is appropraite when working with food, or when it can be reasonably anticipated that contact with contaminates will occur while performing a task at work.

  • When wearing gloves, do not touch your eyes, nose, mouth or any part of your face or clothing.
  • Change or remove gloves after contact with potential contaminates.
  • Never reuse gloves.
  • Remove gloves properly and dispose of in the trash. 

 

Handwashing and Hygiene

During the COVID-19 pandemic, practice frequent hand washing especially while working with the public. Wash hands prior to putting on gloves, when taking off gloves, and anytime you contact a frequently touched surface such as door handles, tables, gas pumps, shopping carts, or electronic cashier registers/screens. When and How to Wash Hands - CDC
 
Hygiene Recommendations:  
  • Do not to touch your face, eyes, or your nose without washing your hands first.  
  • Wash your clothing separately from that of other members of your household.
  • Consider removing your shoes prior to coming into your home.
 

Cleaning And Disinfecting Your Facility:

Everyday Steps, Steps When Someone is Sick, and Considerations for Employers - CDC guidance

 

California School & Child Care Integrated Pest Management (IPM):

 

Americans with Disabilities Act: 

Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act - U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

 

K-12 Education and Employee Guidance:  

 

State of California - Employment Development Department:

Guidance for Workers and Employers - Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)

Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19

Schools should be prepared for COVID-19 outbreaks in their local communities and for individual exposure events to occur in their facilities, regardless of the level of community transmission, for example a case associated with recent travel to an area with sustained COVID-19 transmission. The decision tree contained in this guidance can be used to help schools determine which set of mitigation strategies may be most appropriate for their current situation.  Guidance for Schools

If the employee becomes sick during the day, they should be sent home immediately. Surfaces in their workspace should be cleaned and disinfected. Information on persons who had contact with the ill employee during the time the employee had symptoms and 2 days prior to symptoms should be compiled. Others at the facility with close contact within 6 feet of the employee during this time would be considered exposed.

Employers should implement the recommendations in the Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 to help prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19in the workplace.

Interim Guidance for Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 - CDC

Article - Harvard Business Review (online); Your Employee Tested Positive for Covid-19. What Do You Do?  by Alisa Cohn, March 30, 2020