8/4/21 - Michigan updates COVID-19 guidance for schools

State health officials are recommending that schools, like local communities, implement various COVID-19 prevention strategies based on the level of transmission within their area this fall.

(Mlive) -  The state of Michigan says that when community transmission levels are moderate-to-high, school districts should consider implementing more strategies aimed at curbing spread of coronavirus, especially if vaccination rates are low in a given community.

On Wednesday, Aug. 4, Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services issued updated recommendations for preventing COVID-19 transmission in schools and reducing disruptions to in-person learning.

The changes, which also included listing prevention strategies in order of effectiveness, were made to align with the latest CDC guidance.

“We are committed to ensuring Michigan students and educators are safe in the classroom, including those who may not yet be vaccinated,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at MDHHS, in a prepared statement.

“MDHHS is issuing this guidance 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 as it is our best defense against the virus and the way we are going to end this pandemic.”

Those prevention strategies, in order, include:

1. Promoting vaccination for eligible staff and students.
2. Recommending universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students and visitors, regardless of vaccination status. Additionally, the CDC requires all persons to wear masks on public transportation, including school buses.
3. Practicing physical distancing. Students should maintain at least 3 feet of separation within classrooms, combined with indoor masking.
4. Conduct testing to identify infected individuals, including those without symptoms.
5. Ensuring sufficient ventilation by opening multiple doors and windows, using child-safe fans, and making changes to HVAC or air filtration systems.
6. Promoting handwashing, and covering coughs and sneezes.
7. Encouraging students and staff to stay home when sick, and to seek out testing if they’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or have come into close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
8. Conducting contact tracing.
9. Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces at least once daily.

When determining which prevention strategies to implement, school administrators should work with their local public health officials. Together, they should evaluate the level of community transmission of COVID-19, as well as vaccination coverage of students, teachers and staff, and COVID-19 trends within the school or surrounding community.

As of Monday, Aug. 2, more than 30 Michigan counties were reporting seven-day COVID-19 transmission levels deemed “high” or “substantial,” according to CDC data. Federal health officials recommend all individuals wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status, when transmission surpasses a moderate level.

Last month, the state’s COVID-19 prevention recommendations for schools were met with opposition from school choice group Great Lakes Education Project, whose Executive Director Beth DeShone said, “Whitmer spent the last year telling our kids what they can do, when they can do it, and what they have to wear – without any scientific evidence to back her up. Now she wants to control kids into 2022. Parents have had enough.”

As of Tuesday, Aug. 3, about 58.5% of the 12 and older population had received at least one dose of vaccine, and 54.1% were fully vaccinated. More specifically, about 32.2% of 12 to 15 year olds are at least partially vaccinated, as are 42.1% of those 16 to 19 years old.

For the state’s complete school guidance, visit Michigan.gov, here.