As School Begins, WA Works To Keep Students COVID Safe

OLYMPIA, WA — Washington's students are heading back to the classroom, and state health leaders are hoping the combination of mask requirements, social distancing rules and a high vaccination rate will be able to keep them safe.

According to the Washington State Department of Health's weekly COVID-19 briefing Thursday, as of this week 41 percent of Washington children ages 12 - 15 are fully vaccinated, as are 48 percent of kids 16 and 17. Students under 12 are not yet eligible for vaccination under FDA rules.

State health leaders say that's a promising start, but they hope the vaccination rate will continue to rise as the school year progresses.

"We’re in a race for time, especially as schools reopen," tweeted Dr. Antony L-T Chen, Director of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. "Glad to see our youth are stepping up to protect themselves and our communities by getting vaccinated against COVID-19."

Schools across Washington have been required by the state government to offer in-person learning programs, which has had schools — and health experts — rushing to find ways to make that transition back to the classroom as safe as possible. Schools have been required to implement universal mask mandates, and give students at least 3 feet of space for safe social distancing, among other changes.

"If we continue to follow the requirements and virus transmission stays low, our school buildings can continue to stay open for full-time in-person learning, which we know is the best learning environment for the majority of students," said Deputy Superintendent Michaela W. Miller.

While there is no vaccine mandate for students, unvaccinated teachers and school staff will need to get their doses soon: Gov. Jay Inslee and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal have issued a vaccine order requiring that all school staff be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18.

Between the faculty vaccine mandate, extra COVID-19 safety precautions on campus, and the moderately high vaccination rate among school-age children, state health leaders say they're hopeful that the return to the classroom won't result in any new COVID-19 outbreaks.

"The studies of schools in other states have shown that when masks are worn uniformly by students and staff, even in areas of high community transmission, the schools remain protected," said Washington Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah.

While health leaders are trying to reassure parents that the return to the classroom has been made as safe as possible, they do warn that, if a child does get sick, parents will need to take decisive action — that means keeping them home from school until they are no longer contagious, and monitoring them for severe symptoms.

Health leaders also warn that students — and everyone else — should be limiting their time spent in public or social gatherings, especially if they are unvaccinated. Daily COVID-19 case counts remain at or near record highs for much of the state, and though those case counts may be starting to plateau, officials are urging extra caution until this fifth wave of infections is under control.