PA Issues Updated School Reopening Guidance

HARRISBURG, PA — State health and education officials on Thursday issued updated guidance for schools as they prepare for the start of in-person learning during the coronavirus pandemic. The updated guidance clarifies that students must wear masks at all times during the school day, except when eating, drinking or situated six feet apart.

The guidance also includes new recommendations on social distancing, transportation safety, and procedures in the event a student or staff member becomes infected.

Pennsylvania, like the rest of the nation, is grappling with how best to begin school as cases of the virus continue to rise across the state and country. Gov. Tom Wolf, in an attempt to regain control of the spread of the virus, on Wednesday issued a new executive order reducing restaurant capacity and limiting large gatherings.

Pennsylvania school districts are watching cases spike in the South and West as they prepare their state-mandated school safety plans. They're also facing opposing viewpoints from the community about if they should offer in-person learning or simply operate remotely.

Pennsylvania Education Secretary Pedro Rivera, speaking Thursday during a conference call with reporters, said there is no "one-size fits all" approach to reopening schools during a pandemic.

Health Secretary Rachel Levine, on the same teleconference, said there are things residents can do now to reduce the spread of the virus and make it safer for children to return the classroom.

She emphasized wearing a mask as the single most important thing people can do now to help protect students in the fall. Levine acknowledged the in-school mask mandate is a hard but necessary rule.

"I understand that this is going to be very challenging, but it is very, very important," Levine said about masks.

Here are some highlights from the updated guidance. You can view the full guidance here.

MASKS

• All students must wear a face covering (cloth mask or face shield) that covers their nose and mouth inside the school and while outside when physical distancing is not feasible.
• Children two years and older are required to wear a face covering unless they have a medical or mental health condition or disability, documented in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or IDEA, that precludes the wearing of a face covering in school. Accommodations for such students should be made in partnership with the student's health care provider, school nurse, and IEP/504 team.
• Schools should provide face covering breaks throughout the day. Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet during these face covering breaks. Schools may allow students to remove face coverings when students are eating or drinking when spaced at least 6 feet apart, seated at desks at least 6 feet apart, engaged in any activity at least 6 feet apart.

BUSING

• Require students and parents to perform a symptom screening prior to arriving at school or the bus stop each day.
• Bus drivers and passengers must wear face coverings while on the bus.
• Promote social distancing at bus stops.
• Load the bus by filling seats from back to front to limit students walking past students to find a seat. Do not seat students in the front row of the bus.
• Assign seats by cohort (same students sit together each day) or encourage students from the same family to sit together, or both.
• Use tape marks to show students where to sit.
• Open windows, if weather allows, to improve ventilation.
• Disinfect buses after each run. Thoroughly clean and disinfect buses daily.
• Have all students wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before or immediately upon entering the school.

DESKS/SEATING

• When multiple students are in one enclosed space seat students at least 6 feet apart and facing the same direction, to the maximum extent feasible.
• Turn desks to face in the same direction. If desks cannot be moved, have students spaced apart and sitting on only one side of tables.

HALLWAYS

• Create one-way traffic pattern in hallways.
• Place physical guides, such as tape, on floors or sidewalks to create one-way routes.
• Stagger class times to limit numbers of students in hallways at any time.
• Assign lockers by cohort or eliminate lockers altogether.
• When feasible, keep students in the classroom and rotate teachers instead.

MEALS/CAFETERIA

• Serve individual meals and have students eat in classrooms or other spaces as an alternative to the cafeteria.
• If meals are served in a cafeteria setting, sit students at least 6 feet apart and have students wear face coverings when walking to and from the cafeteria as well as when getting their food.
• Do not allow snacks to be shared for classroom activities or events.

CLEANING

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects within the school and on school buses at least daily, including door handles, sink handles, and drinking fountains
• Clean spaces when used by different groups or cohorts of students.
• Clean and disinfect bathrooms frequently throughout the day.
• Disinfect shared equipment such as computers, keyboards, art supplies, tools and play/gym equipment frequently, and promote hand washing before and after sharing equipment.
• Consider obtaining extra supplies and materials to limit the need for sharing.

PLAYGROUNDS/RECESS

• Clean and disinfect plastic and metal playground equipment, particularly high-touch surfaces such as railings, handles, etc., frequently and routinely over the course of each day.
• Have students and staff wash their hands or use hand sanitizer, before and after being on playgrounds.
• Reinforce physical distancing of at least 6 feet during playground play.
• Limit the size of groups using the playground at any one time.
• Consider providing access to hand washing/sanitizing stations on the playground.

SPORTS

• Coaches, athletes, and spectators must wear face coverings unless they are outdoors and can consistently maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet.
• Athletes are not required to wear face coverings while actively engaged in workouts and competition that prevent the wearing of face coverings, but must wear face coverings when on the sidelines, in the dugout, etc. and anytime 6 feet of social distancing is not possible.

The updated guidance also touches on how schools should respond in the event there is a positive case among students or staff.

• If the person is present on school property, the person should immediately be taken to the COVID-19 related isolation space for pick up (if student) or asked to return home (if staff).
• The entire building does not need to be evacuated.
• Wait at least 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting. If not feasible, wait as long as possible. If seven days have passed since the sick individual was in the affected area, cleaning is not needed.
• Close off areas used by the sick person and do not use again before cleaning and disinfecting.
• Create a communication system to self-report symptoms and for notifying staff and families of exposures and closures. Schools should, however, take every measure to maintain the confidentiality of the affected individual.

The guidance encourages the following measures so that potential infections can be easily traced:

• Use assigned seating for each class when feasible.
• Take attendance for every class and include all individuals (staff and contractors) who were in the classroom.
• Use sign-in sheets for in-person meetings to document staff attendees.
• Keep accurate records of any people other than students and staff that enter the building, their reason for being there, the locations in the building they visit, and the names of close contacts they visit in the building if possible.

Public opinion on if schools should reopen or stay virtual remains split in Pennsylvania.

In a non-scientific poll of nearly 11,000 Pennsylvanians conducted this week by Patch, about 43 percent of respondents said students should "absolutely not" return for in-person learning this fall. But 39 percent had the opposing opinion, saying students "definitely" should. About 18 percent of respondents were unsure. See the full poll results here.

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News tips? Kara.Seymour@Patch.com