Information for Schools and Childcare

Información para escuelas y atención infantil

Last updated 5/26/2022

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We understand that many families, students and staff have concerns about being in the classroom during a pandemic. The truth is that some students and staff will get sick, but they face this risk outside school as well. Children are much more likely to get COVID-19 from an adult at home than at school.

 

In general, research has shown children are less likely to get infected with COVID-19. They are also much less likely to become seriously ill if they do get infected. Health guidelines for masking, testing and ventilation are making classrooms safer.

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Case & Outbreak Reporting
 

Isolation and Quarantine for K-12 Settings

Haga clic para Lineamientos de Aislamiento y Cuarentena para Grados K-12

 

For Students

Isolation

If the child doesn't have symptoms or symptoms are improving after they test positive, they can return to school if a test taken on or after day 5 of isolation is negative. An over-the-counter home antigen test can be used to end isolation. For more information, visit our COVID-19 Patients and Contacts page.

 

Quarantine

  • Students exposed to someone with COVID-19 in school do not need to quarantine unless they become symptomatic or test positive. All students regardless of vaccination status should get tested 3-5 days after their last exposure unless they were infected with COVID-19 within the last 90 days.

  • The State strongly recommends that schools use a group-tracing approach for students exposed to COVID-19 in a K-12 setting, which allows students to remain in class following an exposure unless they develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19. Additional guidance can be found on the CA Safe Schools Hub and in the CDPH K-12 School Guidance.

 

For Teachers and Staff

Follow California's Guidance on Isolation and Quarantine of the General Public, outlined on our COVID-19 Patients and Contacts page.

 
 

Schools 
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Contra Costa County follows the state of California’s guidance for K-12 schools, including:

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For resources for colleges and universities, click here.

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Resources​ for Parents & Caregivers​

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Resources for School Officials

Please refer to California Department of Public Health (CDPH) K-12 Schools Guidance for the most up-to-date information, including testing, quarantine and isolation guidelines.


 

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Childcare

Atención infantil
 

Every child care program is expected to continue to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of children, providers, and families. All providers should apply new and updated policies and requirements that address the need for continued infection control and should update their emergency preparedness plan. Click here to review the State Guidance for Child Care Providers and Programs.

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Local​​

  • GRID: K-12 Schools, Preschool/Childcare Guidance When a Student, Teacher, or Staff Member is Symptomatic, a Close Contact, or Diagnosed with COVID-19 - 6/10/2022
     

State (Estado)​


Centers for Disease Control​ and Prevention (Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades)

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Youth Sports & Activities

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We can reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community by creating safer environments for all who participate in sports and other youth activities. The state’s K-12 schools guidance applies to all school-based extracurricular youth activities including sports, band, chorus, and clubs, regardless of people’s vaccination status. This guidance applies to school-organized activities away from a K-12 campus and non-school activities that take place on K-12 campuses. 

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Indoor mask use remains an effective layer in protecting against COVID-19 infection and transmission, including during sports, music, and related activities, especially activities with increased exertion and/or voice projection, or prolonged close face-face contact.  Accordingly:

  • Masks are strongly recommended indoors at all times for teachers, referees, officials, coaches, and other support staff.

  • Masks are strongly recommended indoors for all spectators and observers. 

  • Masks are strongly recommended indoors at all times when participants are not actively practicing, conditioning, competing, or performing.  Masks are also strongly recommended indoors while on the sidelines, in team meetings, and within locker rooms and weight rooms. 

  • When actively practicing, conditioning, performing, or competing indoors, masks are strongly recommended by participants even during heavy exertion, as practicable.  Individuals using instruments indoors that cannot be played with a mask (e.g., wind instruments) are strongly recommended to use bell coverings and maintain a minimum of 3 feet of physical distancing between participants.  If masks are not worn (or bell covers are not used) due to heavy exertion, it is strongly recommended that individuals undergo screening testing at least once weekly, unless they had COVID-19 in the past 90 days.  An FDA-authorized antigen test, PCR test, or pooled PCR test is acceptable for evaluation of an individual's COVID-19 status.