Michigan issues COVID guidelines for next school year, urges universal masking

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan revealed its update COVID-19[female[feminine safety guidelines to protect students from the virus when they return to in-person learning.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has updated its recommendations to reflect current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on COVID issues and prevention.

“We are committed to ensuring the safety of Michigan students and educators in the classroom, including those who may not yet be vaccinated,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldoun, medical director and deputy director of health at MDHHS. “The MDHHS publishes these guidelines to help protect Michiganders of all ages. We continue to urge all eligible residents to get the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible, because it is our best defense against the virus and how we will end this pandemic. “

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MDHHS officials said the best way to protect students is to overlay multiple COVID prevention strategies.

Here are the key strategies recommended for schools by the CDC:

• Promote COVID-19 vaccination for eligible staff and students.

• Consistent and correct use of the mask.

  • The CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all educators, staff, students, and school visitors, regardless of their immunization status.

  • The CDC order requires all people, regardless of their immunization status, to wear masks on public transportation, including school buses.

• Physical distancing: The CDC recommends that schools maintain a physical distance of at least three feet between students in classrooms, combined with the wearing of an indoor mask by students, teachers and staff, regardless of or the vaccination status.

  • When it is not possible to maintain a distance of three feet, it is especially important to layer several other prevention strategies, such as indoor masking, screening tests, cohort, and improved ventilation to help. reduce the risk of transmission.

• Screening tests identify infected people, including those without symptoms who could be contagious, so that action can be taken to prevent further transmission or outbreaks.

• Ventilation

  • Improve ventilation by opening multiple doors and windows, using child-safe fans to increase the efficiency of open windows, and making modifications to HVAC or air filtration systems.

  • Avoid crowded and / or poorly ventilated indoor activities (take part in outdoor activities when possible).

  • Open or crack windows on buses and other means of transportation to improve air circulation, if this is not a safety risk.

• Hand washing and respiratory etiquette: Promote hand washing and cover coughs and sneezes.

• Stay home and get tested for illness.

  • Encourage students and staff to stay home if they are sick or have symptoms of COVID.

  • Encourage students and staff, regardless of their immunization status, to get tested for COVID if they show symptoms or come in close contact with someone infected with the virus.

• Contact tracing in combination with quarantine: Work with the local health department.

• Cleaning and Disinfection: Cleaning once a day is usually sufficient to sufficiently remove any potential viruses that may be on surfaces. Disinfection (using disinfectants on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s COVID-19 webpage) kills any remaining germs on surfaces, further reducing any risk of the infection spreading.

• The following factors should be used to determine mitigation strategies:

  • Level of community transmission of COVID-19.

  • COVID-19 vaccine coverage in the community and among students, teachers and staff.

  • Use of a frequent SARS-CoV-2 testing program for students, teachers, and staff who are not fully immunized.

  • COVID outbreaks or increasing trends in the school or surrounding community.

  • Age of children served at school and risk associated with school, extracurricular and social activities.