MSDH K-12 Public Health Guidance-Updated-July 30, 2021
Please see and distribute broadly the UPDATED MSDH Public Health Guidance for the Prevention and Control of COVID-19 in K-12 Settings for the 2021-2022 School year.
The Public Health Guidance has been updated to align with CDC guidance due to the emergence of the Delta variant as the predominant strain in Mississippi, fueling significant increases cases and hospitalizations. The Delta variant is highly infectious, up to three times more infectious than the previously identified strains, and Mississippi is experiencing substantial to high levels of transmission throughout the state.
As school begins across the state, we anticipate numerous cases and outbreaks in the school setting, which may lead to disruptions in both in-person classes and extracurricular activities. While students benefit from in-person learning, and safely returning to in-person instruction continues to be a priority, schools need to be prepared now for the continued surge in transmission we anticipate over the coming weeks. Each school/school district should continue to put in place measures to reduce transmission and maintain a safe school environment.
Gist of Updates to MSDH Public Health Guidance and Recommendations (please review attached for full guidance)
- Consistent with CDC Public Health Guidance, MSDH recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 school settings when not eating or drinking, regardless of vaccination status.
- MSDH recommends that all unvaccinated individuals exposed to COVID-19 should immediately quarantine and be excluded from the school setting as outlined in the document
- MSDH recommends that all COVID-19 exposed individuals get tested 3-5 days following exposure (fully vaccinated persons do not have to quarantine after exposure but it is recommended that they get tested).
- Modified Quarantine: Considering the highly infectious Delta variant circulating and the increased impact on transmission, MSDH is NO LONGER RECOMMENDING a modified quarantine for exposed individuals with every other day testing as an option to continue in-person for exposed persons. All unvaccinated individuals exposed to COVID-19 are recommended to be quarantined and excluded from the school setting during the quarantine period.
- In an outbreak setting, quarantine and exclusion from the school setting is recommended for all unvaccinated exposed persons in the outbreak group.
- School Dismissal Considerations: The school may consider dismissal of the entire student/faculty under the following conditions:
- If ≥3 individual classroom settings, defined groups, or defined buildings are experiencing simultaneous outbreaks, or
- If multiple absentees or exclusions of students and staff are leading to disruptions in on-campus functioning and impacting the learning environment as determined by the school.
- If decided upon, dismissal should be for at least 14 days to interrupt transmission
Stay safe and please reach out to us as questions arise.
Paul Byers, MD
State Epidemiologist