Will Schools and Daycares Implement the Updated CDC COVID-19 Guidelines? – Sky Bulletin

The CDC has issued new guidelines indicating that COVID-19 can now be managed similarly to other routine respiratory infections.

This shift means the end of standard isolation periods and mask mandates, raising the question of whether educational and childcare institutions will adapt to these relaxed measures.

Prior to the CDC’s recent update, a five-day isolation period followed by a masking phase was the protocol for anyone diagnosed with COVID-19, extending to school students.

Under the new CDC advisement, children with improved symptoms and no fever for 24 hours without medication can attend school, with masking being “encouraged” but not mandated upon their return.

Despite these federal guidelines, schools and daycares may choose to adhere to their own policies or follow local health directives. This leads to a variety of approaches across states and districts, often causing confusion for parents.

During the 2021-2022 academic year, only 18 states aligned with the CDC’s masking advice in schools. Some states have been quick to remove mask mandates following the CDC’s lead, while others, including California, maintained them for longer.

Additionally, childcare centers sometimes maintain more rigorous testing and isolation strategies than those suggested by the CDC, aiming to prevent outbreaks and maintain staff wellbeing.

As some states like California and Oregon relaxed COVID-19 isolation requirements independently from the CDC, many districts in those states took similar action. California, aiming to combat chronic absenteeism, advised students displaying mild symptoms or testing positive but asymptomatic to still attend school—a policy taken up by districts such as Los Angeles and San Diego.

Yet, many districts across the nation have continued to enforce at least a five-day isolation period. Cities like Boston and Atlanta additionally required post-isolation masking and the reporting of positive results to the schools.

For working parents, the guidelines set by a school or daycare have direct implications, as they may need to take time off work when a child is unable to attend school or daycare because of illness. In October 2023, illness-related childcare issues resulted in 104,000 adults missing work in the US, though this number has since decreased. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 41,000 such cases last month.

At A Place To Grow Children’s Center in Oak Hill, West Virginia, CEO Melissa Colagrosso stated that they have treated COVID like any other illness for about a year, requiring children to be symptom-free for at least 24 hours before return. Asymptomatic cases post-positive test have become rare as most parents only test their children if symptoms are present.

While each institution may navigate these changes differently, the stance from Colagrosso’s center suggests a trend towards normalization in handling childhood illnesses, including COVID.

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