CDC Policy Recommendations:

The CDC recommends the use of layered prevention strategies to prevent COVID-19 in schools. These prevention strategies include:

  1. Promoting vaccination, one of the most critical strategies to help schools safely resume full operations.
  2. Consistent and correct mask use, by people who are not fully vaccinated is especially important indoors and in crowded settings, when physical distancing cannot be maintained.
  3. Physical distancing of at least 3 feet. If this is not possible, it is especially important to layer multiple other prevention strategies.
  4. Screening tests to promptly identify cases, clusters, and outbreaks.
  5. Ventilation whenever inside a closed space.
  6. Handwashing and respiratory etiquette.
  7. Staying home when sick and getting tested.
  8. Contact tracing, in combination with isolation and quarantine.
  9. Cleaning and disinfection.
Low Transmission Blue Moderate Transmission Yellow Substantial Transmission Orange High Transmission Red
Students Do not need to screen students. Offer screening testing for students who are not fully vaccinated at least once per week.
Teachers and Staff Offer screening testing for teachers and staff who are not fully vaccinated at least once per week.
High-risk sports and activities Recommend screening testing for high-risk sports and extracurricular activies at least once per week for participants who are not fully vaccinated. Recommend screening testing for high-risk extracurricular activies twice per week for participants who are not fully vaccinated. Cancel or hold high-risk sports and extracurricular activies virtually to protect in-person learning, unless all participants are fully vaccinated.
Low and Intermediate-risk sports Do not need to screen students participating in low and intermediate-risk sports. Recommend screening testing for low and intermediate-risk sports at least once per week for participants who are not fully vaccinated.
CDC Strategies

Introduce Student Cohorting

Increase Masking

Limit contact with nonessential, unvaccinated groups

Offer Screening Tests for unvaccinated students, teachers, and staff

Low Transmission Moderate Transmission Substantial Transmission High Transmission
Offer screening tests for unvaccinated teachers and staff
Offer screening tests for unvaccinated students
Screening testing for sports 1-2x per week Cancel high-risk sports and extracurricular activities
CDC Strategies
Limit nonessential visitors, volunteers, and activies with external groups unless vaccinated
Increase student cohorting and masking