Updated DOH COVID Guidance Posted

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has updated the guidance for child care facilities, which has now been combined with K-12 schools, camps, and other youth programs. This guidance can be found here:
https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-03/821-165-K12SchoolsChildCare.pdf  and goes into effect on March 12, 2022  to coincide with the lifting of the indoor mask mandate.

DOH and DCYF will be holding a webinar TODAY to review the new guidance (times are listed near the end of this health alert). If you cannot join the live webinar, it will be posted to the  DCYF website  in a few days.

• All employees in educational settings are required to be fully vaccinated or have a medical or religious exemption per Governor’s proclamation 21-14.3. (page 2)
• Any student, child, or staff who reports or exhibits COVID-19 -like symptoms is required to be immediately isolated from others, sent home, and referred to diagnostic testing as soon as feasible, regardless of vaccination status. (page 3)
• All cases of COVID-19 in schools and provider facilities are required to be reported to LHJs/DOH in accordance with LHJ/DOH guidance and Washington State Law (WAC 246-101). (page 5)
• All outbreaks of COVID-19 are required to be reported to the LHJ/licensor (WAC 246-101). (page 5)
• Schools, providers and the general public are required to cooperate with public health authorities in the investigation of cases and outbreaks that may be associated with school or provider (WAC 246-101). (page 5)
• Employers are required to notify L&I about outbreaks of 10 or more staff members at a facility. (page 5)
• While masks are no longer required universally in schools or provider settings, there will be situations when the use of well-fitting masks may be temporarily required for individuals by DOH and/or public health (e.g., days 6-10 when a student, child, or staff returns from isolation after 5 days). Masks may also be required universally during clusters and/or outbreaks in classrooms or with groups of students, or within provider settings, to limit disease transmission and ensure in-person instruction and care. (page 7)

• Updated CDC guidance for child cares - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/child-care-guidance.html
• American Academy of Pediatrics Masking Guidance for Families - https://fcaap.org/posts/news/aap-offers-new-masking-recommendations-for-families-following-updated-cdc-guidance/