Information for Schools and Childcare

Información para escuelas y atención infantil

Last updated 1/13/2022

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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. And schools following state and local 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

  • The State recently adopted guidelines reducing the amount of time a student must stay home ("isolate") after they first test positive for COVID-19. If the child doesn't have symptoms or symptoms are improving, 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.

  •  The State recently updated its guidance for students exposed to COVID-19 in a K-12 setting, with updates to individual-level quarantine recommendations and an additional group-tracing approach strategy. All updates 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 
Haga clic para ver información sobre las escuelas 

Contra Costa County follows the state of California’s guidance for K-12 schools and has additional masking requirements in indoor settings. Some of the key aspects of the state and local guidance for schools includes:

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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

CCHS guidances and tools are being updated. 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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School District COVID-19 Data Dashboards

Many school districts in Contra Costa County maintain their own data dashboards showing how many cases are associated with their campuses.

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Protect Young Kids Tip Sheet_9-17-21.jpg

Tip Sheet: Protect Young Kids from COVID-19

Proteja a los Niños Pequeños del COVID-19

 

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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Day camps and other supervised youth activities may post the checklist for day camps and other supervised youth activities in the facility.

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The guidance for overnight camps remains in effect through September 2021 unless otherwise indicated by CDPH.

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Local

State (Estado)


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

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Youth Sports & Activities

Haga clic para ver información sobre los deportes juveniles y actividades

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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 requirements and recommendations in this guidance apply to all school-based extracurricular youth activities including sports, band, chorus, and clubs, regardless of people’s vaccination status.

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Safety recommendations:

  1. Masks are required indoors at all times for teachers, referees, officials, coaches, and other support staff.

  2. Masks are required indoors for all spectators and observers. 

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

  4. When actively practicing, conditioning, or competing in indoor sports, masks are required by participants even during heavy exertion, as practicable.  If masks are not worn due to heavy exertion, it is strongly recommended that individuals undergo screening testing at least once weekly.  An FDA-approved antigen test, PCR test, or pooled PCR test is acceptable for evaluation of an individual's COVID-19 status.

  5. Individuals using instruments indoors that cannot be played with a mask (e.g., wind instruments) may perform if bell coverings are used when playing wind instruments AND a minimum of 3 feet of physical distancing is maintained between participants.  Modified masking may be considered in addition to, but not in place of, bell covers.  If bell covers are not used, it is strongly recommended that individuals undergo screening testing at least once weekly.  An FDA-approved antigen test, PCR test, or pooled PCR test is acceptable for evaluation of an individual's COVID-19 status.
     

Click to read more from the California Department of Public Health. 

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