INTERIM GUIDANCE FOR IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION AT PRE-K TO GRADE 12 SCHOOLS DURING THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY When you have read this document, you can affirm at the bottom. As of July 13, 2020 Purpose This Interim Guidance for In-Person Instruction at Pre-K to Grade 12 Schools during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (“Interim COVID-19 Guidance for Schools”) was created to provide all elementary (including pre-kindergarten), middle, and high schools, as well as their employees, contractors, students, and parents/legal guardians of students with precautions to help protect against the spread of COVID-19 for schools that are authorized to provide in-person instruction in the 2020-2021 school year. This guidance is intended to address all types of public and private (both secular and non-secular) elementary (including pre-kindergarten), middle, and high schools. In addition to affirming to understand and meet the requirements described herein, school districts, boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES), charter schools, and private schools must develop individual plans for reopening and operating during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Each plan must meet the minimum standards set forth in this guidance and reflect engagement with school stakeholders and community members, including but not limited to administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents/legal guardians of students, local health departments, local health care providers, and, where appropriate, affiliated organizations (e.g., union, alumni, and/or community-based groups). Specifically, each school district, BOCES, charter school, and private school must develop and submit to the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and the New York State Education Department (NYSED), or the State University of New York (SUNY) for charter schools authorized by SUNY, a plan that, at minimum, covers: (1) Reopening of school facilities for in-person instruction, (2) Monitoring of health conditions, (3) Containment of potential transmission of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and (4) Closure of school facilities and in-person instruction, if necessitated by widespread virus transmission. Core Health and Safety Principles and Definitions • Responsible Parties : Responsible Parties shall be responsible for developing the plan, affirming to having read and adhere to this guidance, and meeting the standards set forth herein. For school districts and BOCES, the district superintendent, or another party as may be designated by the district superintendent, and for private and charter schools, the head of school, or another party as may be designated by the head of school, is the Responsible Parties. The designated party can be an individual or group of individuals responsible for the operations of the school or schools. • Face Coverings : Responsible Parties must maintain protocols and procedures for students, faculty, staff, and other individuals to ensure appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is used to protect against the transmission of the COVID-19 virus when on school grounds and in school facilities. Specifically, appropriate PPE means, at least, an acceptable face covering, which is strongly recommended to be worn by all individuals at all times but is required to be worn any time or place that individuals cannot maintain appropriate social distancing. However, if face coverings are to be worn by all individuals at all times, Responsible Parties should allow students to remove their face covering during meals, instruction, and for short breaks so long as they maintain appropriate social distance. Acceptable face coverings include but are not limited to cloth-based face coverings (e.g., homemade sewn, quick cut, bandana), and surgical masks that cover both the mouth and nose. • Social Distancing: Responsible Parties must maintain protocols and procedures for students, faculty, • Spaces : To reduce social density, Responsible Parties should consider and assess additional and/or and staff to ensure appropriate social distancing to protect against the transmission of the COVID-19 virus when on school grounds and in school facilities. Specifically, appropriate social distancing means six feet of space in all directions between individuals or use of appropriate physical barriers between individuals that do not adversely affect air flow, heating, cooling, or ventilation, or otherwise present a health or safety risk. If used, physical barriers must be put in place in accordance with United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines, and may include strip curtains, cubicle walls, plexiglass or similar materials, or other impermeable divider or partition. alternate indoor space(s) that may be repurposed for instruction or other required purposes in support of in-person instruction within the school facility, school grounds, municipal facilities, municipal grounds, or community (e.g., community centers), as well as outdoor space(s) where health and safety conditions (e.g., allergies, asthma) allow for such potential usage. • In-Person Instruction: To ensure equity in education, Responsible Parties should prioritize efforts to return all students to in-person instruction at this time. However, based on the dynamic nature of local community transmission of the COVID-19 virus, a phased-in approach or hybrid model combining in-person instruction and remote/distance learning may be necessary at various times through the 2020-2021 school year. In planning for these approaches and models, school plans should indicate if certain students will be prioritized to return to in-person instruction first or more frequently based on educational or other needs (e.g., early grades, students with disabilities, English language learners), given requirements for equity, capacity, social distancing, PPE, feasibility, and learning considerations. • Cohorts : Responsible Parties should “cohort” students, to the extent practicable, to limit potential • Screening: Responsible Parties must implement mandatory health screenings, including temperature exposure to the COVID-19 virus. Cohorts, particularly for younger students, are self-contained, preassigned groups of students with reasonable group size limits set forth by the Responsible Parties in their plans. Responsible Parties should enact measures to prevent intermingling between cohorts, to the extent possible (e.g., separation by appropriate social distancing, particularly if there are multiple cohorts in one area). Responsible Parties should make reasonable efforts to ensure that cohorts are fixed – meaning contain the same students – for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Faculty may instruct more than one cohort so long as appropriate social distancing is maintained. checks, of students, faculty, staff, and, where applicable, contractors, vendors, and visitors to identify any individuals who may have COVID-19 or who may have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus. Specifically, all individuals must have their temperature checked each day. If an individual presents a temperature of greater than 100.0°F, the individual must be denied entry into the facility or sent directly to a dedicated area prior to being picked up or otherwise sent home. Responsible Parties must also use a daily screening questionnaire for faculty and staff reporting to school; and periodically use a questionnaire for students, particularly younger students, who may require the assistance of their parent/legal guardian to answer. Remote health screening (e.g., by electronic survey, digital application, or telephone, which may involve the parent/legal guardian) before any individual reports to school, is strongly advised. 2 • Transportation: Consistent with State-issued public transit guidance, Responsible Parties must • Food Services : Responsible Parties must continue to provide school breakfast and/or lunch to • Ventilation: Responsible Parties should increase ventilation with outdoor air to the greatest extent • Hygiene, Cleaning, and Disinfection: Responsible Parties must adhere to and promote hygiene, • Contact Tracing: Responsible Parties must notify the state and local health department immediately • Return to School: Responsible Parties must establish protocols and procedures, in consultation with develop protocols and procedures, which include that individuals must wear acceptable face coverings at all times on school buses (e.g., entering, exiting, and seated), and that individuals should maintain appropriate social distancing, unless they are members of the same household. Responsible Parties should encourage parents/legal guardians to drop off or walk students to school to reduce density on buses. students who were previously receiving school meals, both on site and remote. For students on site, Responsible Parties must provide meals while maintaining appropriate social distancing between students. Students do not need to wear face coverings when seated and eating so long as they are appropriately socially distanced. Responsible Parties may serve meals in alternate areas (e.g., classrooms) or staggered meal periods to ensure social distancing and proper cleaning and disinfection between students. possible (e.g., opening windows and doors) while maintaining health and safety protocols, particularly for younger students. cleaning, and disinfection guidance set forth by DOH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Responsible Parties must train all students, faculty, and staff on proper hand and respiratory hygiene. Responsible Parties must maintain logs that include the date, time, and scope of cleaning and disinfection, as well as identify cleaning and disinfection frequency for each facility and area type and assign responsibility to staff. upon being informed of any positive COVID-19 diagnostic test result by an individual within school facilities or on school grounds, including students, faculty, staff, and visitors. In the case of an individual testing positive, Responsible Parties must develop and maintain plans to support local health departments in tracing all contacts of the individual, in accordance with the protocols, training, and tools provided through the New York State Contact Tracing Program. Confidentiality must be maintained as required by federal and state law and regulations. Responsible Parties must cooperate with all state and local health department contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine efforts. the local health department(s), about the requirements for determining when individuals, particularly students, who screened positive for COVID-19 symptoms can return to the in-person learning environment at school. This return to school protocol shall include, at minimum, documentation from a health care provider following evaluation, negative COVID-19 diagnostic test result, and symptom resolution, or if COVID-19 positive, release from isolation. Responsible Parties should refer to DOH’s “Interim Guidance for Public and Private Employees Returning to Work Following COVID-19 Infection or Exposure” regarding protocols and policies for faculty and staff seeking to return to work after a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 or after the faculty or staff member had close or proximate contact with a person with COVID-19. Plan Requirements Reopening of in-person instruction includes protocols and procedures for restarting school operations including students, faculty, and staff returning to in-person instruction. At a minimum, plans must incorporate the following: • Capacity: Phasing and quantity of students, faculty, and staff allowed to return in-person, considering factors such as ability to maintain appropriate social distance, personal protective equipment (PPE) availability, local medical capacity, and availability of safe transportation; 3 • Social Distancing: Protocols and procedures for students, faculty, and staff to ensure appropriate social distancing when on school grounds and in school facilities; • PPE and Face Coverings: Protocols and procedures for students, faculty, staff, and other individuals • Operational Activity: Determinations on how classes, shared spaces, and activities may be adapted • Restart Operations: Plans to safely reopen facilities and grounds, such as cleaning and disinfection, to ensure appropriate PPE is used to protect against the transmission of the COVID-19 virus when on school grounds and in school facilities. Plans for all students, faculty, and staff to have the required PPE (i.e., acceptable face coverings) before entering school facilities, grounds, or any other space owned or administered by the school or school district (e.g., school buses); in various phases of learning and operations (e.g., identify which, if any, students will be offered alternate approaches, such as alternative schedules or hybrids of in-person and remote learning; how additional and alternative – school and non-school – spaces can be used for, or in support of, inperson instruction; how such schedules could be administered to create overlap for students from the same household; how shared spaces, such as cafeterias, libraries, playgrounds, and gymnasiums, will be modified and used, if and how cohorts will be implemented). Policies regarding field trips, special congregate events, and visitors considering risks for COVID-19 transmission, as well as protocols and procedures for social distancing, PPE usage, and cleaning and disinfection, which may include conducting virtual events; and restarting building ventilation, water systems, and other key facility components, as applicable; • Hygiene, Cleaning, and Disinfection: Protocols and procedures for school-wide cleaning and • Extracurriculars: Policies regarding extracurricular programs and which activities will be allowed, • Before and Aftercare: Policies regarding before and aftercare programs, considering social • Vulnerable Populations: Policies regarding vulnerable populations, including students, faculty and • Transportation: Consistent with State-issued public transit guidance, protocols and procedures, disinfection of classrooms, restrooms, cafeterias, libraries, playgrounds, school buses, and all other school facilities, as well as training and promotion of hand and respiratory hygiene among all individuals in school facilities and on school grounds; considering social distancing, PPE usage, and cleaning and disinfection, as well as risk of COVID-19 transmission (e.g., interscholastic sports, assemblies, and other gatherings). Policies should consider how to maintain cohorts, if applicable, or members of the same household. Responsible Parties should refer to DOH’s “Interim Guidance for Sports and Recreation During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency” to assist in development of these policies; however, interscholastic sports are not permitted at the time of publication of this guidance, and additional information on athletic activities is forthcoming; distancing, PPE usage, and cleaning and disinfection requirements, as well as risk of COVID-19 transmission. Policies should consider how to maintain cohorts, if applicable, or group members of the same household; staff who are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 illness, and individuals who may not feel comfortable returning to an in-person educational environment, to allow them to safely participate in educational activities and, where appropriate, accommodate their specific circumstances. These accommodations may include but are not limited to remote learning or telework, modified educational or work settings, or providing additional PPE to individuals with underlying health conditions. Responsible Parties must also identify and describe any modifications to social distancing or PPE that may be necessary for certain student or staff populations, including individuals who have hearing impairment or loss, students receiving language services, and young students in early education programs, ensuring that any modifications minimize COVID-19 exposure risk for students, faculty, and staff, to the greatest extent possible; which include that individuals must wear acceptable face coverings at all times on school buses (e.g., entering, exiting, and seated), and that individuals should maintain appropriate social distancing, 4 unless they are members of the same household. Protocols and procedures should include how school buses will be adapted to keep students and staff safe (e.g., how face coverings will be provided to students in need, how members of the same household will be seated together, how social distancing will be conducted on buses, whether bus schedules will be adapted to accommodate reduced capacity, whether any health screening will be conducted at home before students board buses, how parents/legal guardians will be encouraged to drop off or walk students to reduce density on buses); • Food Services: Protocols and procedures for onsite and remote food services for students, • Mental Health, Behavioral, and Emotional Support Services and Programs: Available resources and considering appropriate social distancing and any modifications to service that may be necessary (e.g., providing meals in a combination of classrooms and cafeterias, staggering meal periods). Measures to protect students with food allergies if providing meals in spaces outside the cafeteria. Protocols and procedures must also include how students will perform hand hygiene before and after eating, how appropriate hand hygiene will be promoted, and how sharing of food and beverages will be discouraged. Additionally, protocols and procedures must account for cleaning and disinfection prior to the next group of students arriving for meals, if served in the same common area (e.g., cafeteria); referrals to address mental health, behavioral, and emotional needs of students, faculty, and staff when school reopens for in-person instruction (e.g., how they will identify and support students having difficulty with transitioning back into the school setting, especially given the changed school environment). Any training for faculty and staff on how to talk with, and support, students during and after the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency, as well as information on developing coping and resilience skills for students, faculty, and staff; and • Communication: Communications plans for students, parents/legal guardians of students, faculty, staff and visitors that includes applicable instructions, training, signage, and a consistent means to provide individuals with information. Plans should describe how schools will communicate with students and families about preparing for the upcoming year, which should include adapting to social distancing requirements, properly wearing face coverings, and proper hand and respiratory hygiene. Consider developing webpages, text and email groups, and social media to disseminate information. Schools should develop communication plans in multiple languages, as necessary. Monitoring includes protocols and procedures to track health conditions at schools. At a minimum, plans must incorporate the following: • Screening: Protocols and procedures for mandatory health screenings, including temperature checks, of students, faculty, staff, and, where applicable, contractors, vendors, and visitors to identify any individuals who may have COVID-19 or who may have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus. Responsible Parties should consider limiting the number of visitors permitted on school grounds or in school facilities, and, if visitors are allowed, screening of such visitors; • Testing Protocols: Process for the provision or referral of diagnostic testing for students, faculty, and staff for COVID-19, in consultation with local health department officials, when needed, which should include plans for testing of symptomatic individuals, close contacts of COVID-19 suspected or confirmed individuals, and individuals with recent international travel or travel within a state with widespread transmission of COVID-19 as designated through the New York State Travel Advisory, before allowing such individuals to return to in-person to the school; • Testing Responsibility: Identification of who in the community is responsible for referring, sourcing, • Early Warning Signs: Defined metrics that will serve as early warning signs that positive COVID-19 and administering testing (e.g., local health department testing site, physician offices, hospital system), particularly in the event that large-scale testing at the school is needed; and cases may be increasing beyond an acceptable level, as established by state and local health departments; define and deploy method(s) to monitor against such metrics. 5 Containment includes protocols and procedures for how to respond to positive or presumed-positive cases, as well as preventative practices. At a minimum, plans must incorporate the following: • School Health Offices: Protocols for safely caring for a student, faculty, or staff member if they develop symptoms of COVID-19 during the school day; • Isolation: Procedures to isolate individuals who screen positive upon arrival, or symptomatic individuals should they become symptomatic while at school, providing appropriate PPE for school health office staff caring for the symptomatic individual. Protocols for safe transportation, including pick-up arrangements, if applicable, for symptomatic students, faculty, and staff; • Collection: Protocols for how parents or legal guardians should pick up their student with instructions that the student must be seen by a health care provider; • Infected Individuals: Requirements that persons who have tested positive complete isolation and • Exposed Individuals: Requirements that individuals who were exposed to the COVID-19 virus • Hygiene, Cleaning, and Disinfection: Adherence to, and promotion of, hygiene, cleaning, and • Contact Tracing: Plans to support local health departments in contact tracing efforts using the • Communication: Plans to share protocols and safety measures taken by the school with all relevant have recovered, and will not transmit COVID-19 when returning to in-person learning. Discharge from isolation and return to school will be conducted in coordination with the local health department. complete quarantine and have not developed symptoms before returning to in-person learning. Discharge from quarantine and return to school will be conducted in coordination with the local health department; disinfection guidance set forth by DOH and CDC, including strategies for cleaning and disinfection of exposed areas and appropriate notification to occupants of such areas; protocols, training, and tools provided through the New York State Contact Tracing Program – an initiative between the Department of Health, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Vital Strategies; and parties including parents/legal guardians, faculty, staff, students and the local community. Closure includes contingency plans, protocols, and procedures for decreasing the scale or scope of inperson education, and/or closing the school. At a minimum, plans must incorporate the following: • Closure triggers: Identification of the conditions that may warrant reducing in-person education or • Operational Activity: Determination of which operations will be decreased, or ceased and which • Communication: Plan to communicate internally and externally throughout the closure process. closing the school, in consultation with state and local health departments, and plan for an orderly closure; operations will be conducted remotely; include process to conduct orderly closures which may include phasing, milestones, and involvement of key personnel; and State-Issued Guidance and Minimum Standards Pre-K through Grade 12 schools involve a variety of activities depending on their specific educational and extracurricular programs and services, and, as such, should reference relevant “industry-specific” guidelines provided by DOH – and available on the New York Forward website – for operations of food services, office workspaces, transportation, and other activities, as applicable. Specifically, operations of cafeterias and other food services must operate in accordance with “Interim Guidance for Food Services during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency” with additional precautions for students that are contained herein, such as social distancing between students or cohorts of students. Administrative 6 functions must operate in accordance with, “Interim Guidance for Office-Based Work during the COVID19 Public Health Emergency.” Transportation services administered by the school must operate in accordance with “Interim Guidance for Public Transportation Activities during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency” with additional precautions that are contained herein. Interscholastic athletics are not permitted at the time of publication and must only operate in accordance with forthcoming State-issued guidance. These guidelines are minimum requirements only and each school is free to provide additional precautions or increased restrictions. These guidelines are based on the best-known public health practices at the time of publication, and the documentation upon which these guidelines are based can and does change frequently. The Responsible Parties – as defined above – are accountable for adhering to all local, state and federal requirements relative to schools and auxiliary activities. The Responsible Parties are also accountable for staying current with any updates to these requirements, and related guidance as stated above, as well as incorporating same into any school activities and/or school reopening plan(s). Background On March 7, 2020, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo issued Executive Order 202, declaring a state of emergency in response to COVID-19. Community transmission of COVID-19 has occurred throughout New York. To minimize further spread, social distancing of at least six feet must be maintained between individuals, where possible. On March 16, 2020, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.4, ordering all schools to close no later than March 18, 2020. Subsequent Executive Orders 202.11, 202.14, 202.18, and 202.28 extended such closure through the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. On June 5, 2020, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.37, allowing in-person special education services and instruction during the summer term, provided that any district offering such services follow state and federal guidance. On March 20, 2020, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.6, directing all non-essential businesses to close in-office personnel functions. Essential businesses, as defined by Empire State Development Corporation (ESD) guidance, were not subject to the in-person restriction, but were, however, directed to comply with the guidance and directives for maintaining a clean and safe work environment issued by the New York State Department of Health (DOH), and were strongly urged to maintain social distancing measures to the extent possible. On April 12, 2020, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.16, directing essential businesses to provide employees, who are present in the workplace, with a face covering, at no-cost, that must be used when in direct contact with customers or members of the public during the course of their work. On April 15, 2020, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.17, directing that any individual who is over age two and able to medically tolerate a face-covering must cover their nose and mouth with a mask or cloth face-covering when in a public place and unable to maintain, or when not maintaining, social distance. On April 16, 2020, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.18, directing that everyone using public or private transportation carriers or other for-hire vehicles, who is over age two and able to medically tolerate a face covering, must wear a mask or face covering over the nose and mouth during any such trip. It also directed any operators or drivers of public or private transport to wear a face covering or mask which covers the nose and mouth while there are any passengers in such a vehicle. On May 29, 2020, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.34, authorizing business operators/owners with the discretion to deny admittance to individuals who fail to comply with the face covering or mask requirements. On April 26, 2020, Governor Cuomo announced a phased approach to reopen industries and businesses in New York in phases based upon a data-driven, regional analysis. On May 4, 2020, the Governor provided that the regional analysis would consider several public health factors, including new COVID-19 infections, as well as health care system, diagnostic testing, and contact tracing capacity. On May 11, 7 2020, Governor Cuomo announced that the first phase of reopening would begin on May 15, 2020 in several regions of New York, based upon available regional metrics and indicators. On May 29, 2020, Governor Cuomo announced that the second phase of reopening would begin in several regions of the state, and announced the use of a new early warning dashboard that aggregates the state's expansive data collection efforts for New Yorkers, government officials, and experts to monitor and review where and how the virus is being contained to ensure a safe reopening. On June 11, 2020, Governor Cuomo announced that the third phase of reopening would begin on June 12, 2020 in several regions of New York. On June 24, 2020, Governor Cuomo announced that several regions of the state were on track to enter the fourth phase of reopening, starting on June 26, 2020. On May 8, 2020, Governor Cuomo launched New York's Reimagine Education Advisory Council – made up of educators, students, parents, and education leaders – to help school districts, colleges, and universities reimagine teaching and learning as they prepare to reopen while protecting the health and safety of students and educators. The collective expertise and experience of this advisory council helped address key questions about how to strengthen New York's entire education system and helped inform this guidance. Specifically, this distinguished Council recommended the following key principles, which are reflected throughout these guidelines: • • Develop Flexible Plans: Schools must allow students, faculty, and staff to return to an in-person classroom setting with safety rules in place, while creating plans that are flexible and adaptable to ever-changing circumstances, especially given the possibility of a resurgence of COVID-19. Enact Safeguards to Protect the Health of Students and Employees: Essential safeguards for inperson education must be embedded in schools’ plans, including but not limited to developing procedures for hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection; providing proper PPE; maintaining social distancing; developing screening procedures; considering implications of busing and transportation; developing mitigation measures in cases of student and staff infections; considering needs of higher risk and vulnerable populations. o Develop proper procedures for hand washing, cleaning and disinfection, ventilation, and appropriate use of PPE. o Schools should provide proper PPE for those staff that must come into close contact with students, e.g. those who work with students that have certain disabilities. o Schools should develop a plan for group purchasing of PPE. o To maintain the safety of students and staff school districts plans must include physical/social distancing of six feet. In instances when six feet cannot be maintained proper face coverings must be worn in common areas such as hallways or on school buses. Provide exemptions or alternatives for those medically unable to wear masks. o Place students in cohorts throughout the school day where feasible, and determine appropriate meal service options to ensure social distancing. o Develop a plan for screening of students and staff. o Consider the implications of busing (and limited busing) on students’ ability to attend school in person. o Work with state and local health departments to develop mitigation measures—such as additional disinfecting, postponing in-classroom instruction, or school closures—in cases of student and staff infections. o Consider the needs of vulnerable populations and offer options for students and staff at higher risk of severe illness to limit their risk of exposure (e.g., virtual learning and teaching opportunities, respectively). o Schools must work with state and local health departments as conditions may change. The flexible plan must adhere to federal and state guidelines for cleaning, sanitization and social distancing protocols. 8 • • • • • • • Prioritize In-Classroom Instruction for Students that Need it the Most: Schools should include steps to facilitate face-to-face instruction as much as possible, with a particular emphasis on in-person instruction for younger students, low-income students, special education students, English Language Learners, and those with limited access to technology. Arts, CTE, Labs, and Other Areas Must be Prioritized: Recognize the unique challenges and opportunities of remote instruction to the arts, career and technical education, physical education, laboratory coursework, and other activity-oriented subjects, understanding it is imperative that schools include in-person instruction in those areas to the extent possible. Utilize Innovative Models Such as Community Schools: Schools should be encouraged to expand community schools and wraparound services to support students and their families with essential needs like health and support services. Schools should create partnerships with arts, culture, athletic, and other community-based organizations. As part of this effort, schools should identify and ensure the availability of community resources to support the social, emotional, and health needs of students, families, and staff. Establish Best Practices for Hybrid and Remote Learning: Given the potential for intermittent school closures, or limited in-school activity, schools should establish effective hybrid and remote learning strategies in conjunction with stakeholders. In addition, schools should consider providing education/classroom activities in alternative non-traditional school spaces, such as community centers, simulcast lessons and professional development. Share Best Practices throughout the Region/State: Given the unprecedented challenges facing schools because of the ongoing public health emergency, schools should collaborate in developing reopening plans and districts should work with their communities and surrounding school districts to share knowledge and resources which promote efficiencies and increased opportunities for students, educators, and communities. Collaborate with Stakeholders: Schools should collaborate with stakeholders within districts and create specific processes to ensure that multiple perspectives are considered when developing plans. Communicate and Share Plans Widely: School plans should be readily available and accessible in all dominant languages spoken by students and their parents/legal guardians. In addition to the following standards, schools must continue to comply with the guidance and directives for maintaining clean and safe work environments issued by DOH. Please note that where guidance in this document differs from other guidance documents issued by New York State, or the respective regulatory or oversight body, such as NYSED or DOH, the more recent guidance shall apply. Standards for Responsible School Activities in New York State No school activities can operate without meeting the following minimum State guidance, as well as applicable federal requirements, including but not limited to such minimum standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and OSHA. The State standards apply to all school activities in operation during the COVID-19 public health emergency until rescinded or amended by the State. The following guidance is provided to help schools develop their reopening plans and is organized around three distinct categories: people, places, and processes. 9 I. PEOPLE A. Social Distancing and Face Covering Social Distancing • Responsible Parties must ensure that appropriate social distancing is maintained between individuals while in school facilities and on school grounds, inclusive of students, faculty, and staff, unless safety or the core activity (e.g., instruction, moving equipment, using an elevator, traveling in common areas) requires a shorter distance or individuals are of the same household. Face Coverings • Any time or place that individuals cannot maintain appropriate social distancing, individuals must wear acceptable face coverings. • Face coverings are strongly recommended at all times, except for meals and instruction with appropriate social distancing. However, Responsible Parties can require face coverings at all times, even during instruction; and it is strongly recommended in areas with higher rates of COVID-19 community infection. o Responsible Parties requiring the wearing of face coverings by students at all times will need to consider and address developmental appropriateness, feasibility, and ability to implement such policy in a safe, consistent manner. • Responsible Parties should develop plans for face covering breaks for students when they can maintain social distance. • All individuals in school facilities and on school grounds must be prepared to put on a face covering if another person unexpectedly cannot socially distance; and for this reason, individuals – including students – must wear face coverings in common areas, such as entrances/exits, lobbies, and when traveling around the school. • Students who are unable to medically tolerate a face covering, including students where such covering would impair their physical health or mental health are not subject to the required use of a face covering. • Responsible Parties should consider assistance to students who may have difficulty in adapting to wearing a face covering. • Responsible Parties must train all students, faculty, and staff on how to adequately put on, take off, clean (as applicable), and discard PPE, including but not limited to, appropriate face coverings. This training should be extended to contractors and vendors, if the Responsible Parties will be supplying the contractors and vendors with PPE. Social Distancing for Certain Activities • Responsible Parties should ensure that a distance of twelve feet in all directions is maintained between individuals while participating in activities requires projecting the voice (e.g., singing), playing a wind instrument, or aerobic activity resulting in heavy breathing (e.g., participating in gym classes). Space Configurations • Responsible Parties are strongly encouraged to (1) modify or reconfigure spaces and areas, and/or (2) restrict the use of classrooms and other places where students, faculty, and staff gather (e.g., lockers, cubbies, entryways, hallways), so that individuals can be socially distanced (e.g., side-to-side and when facing one another), and are not sharing workstations, desks, tables, or other shared surfaces without cleaning and disinfection between use. 10 o If Responsible Parties are using a cohort model, cleaning and disinfection may be performed in between each group’s use instead of individual’s use. • Where feasible, Responsible Parties should put in place measures to reduce bi-directional foot traffic using tape or signs with arrows in hallways, or spaces throughout the school, and post signage and distance markers denoting spaces of six feet in all commonly used areas and any areas in which lines are commonly formed or people may congregate (e.g., outdoor spaces, libraries, classrooms, cafeterias, health screening stations). • Responsible Parties should determine which facilities, grounds, or portions thereof (e.g., libraries, recreational facilities) will be closed to the public (i.e., not students, faculty, or staff) or offer limited, specific hours to members of the general public. Any use of a school facility or grounds by the general public must be subject to the same guidelines required during all other school operations. • Responsible parties should work to find additional or alternate space with community-based organizations and other operators of alternative spaces (e.g., local governments) to maximize capacity for in-person learning. Schedules • Responsible Parties should consider staggered arrival and pick-up times to facilitate proper social distancing, and assign lockers or other student storage areas by cohort or eliminate their use. However, students should not carry an unreasonable number of books or materials throughout the day. Signage • Responsible Parties must post signs throughout the school and should regularly share similar messages with the school community, consistent with DOH COVID-19 signage regarding public health protections against COVID-19. Responsible Parties can develop their own customized and ageappropriate signage specific to their school or educational setting, provided that such signage is consistent with the Department’s signage. Signage should be used to remind individuals to: o Stay home if they feel sick. o Cover their nose and mouth with an acceptable face covering when unable to maintain social distance from others or in accordance with any stricter policy implemented by the school. o Properly store and, when necessary, discard PPE. o Adhere to social distancing instructions. o Report symptoms of, or exposure to, COVID-19, and how they should do so. o Follow hand hygiene, and cleaning and disinfection guidelines. o Follow respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette. B. Gatherings Meals • Responsible Parties must ensure social distancing between individuals while eating in school cafeteria. If not feasible, meals may be served in alternate areas (e.g., classrooms) or in staggered meal periods to ensure social distancing and proper cleaning and disinfection between students. o Responsible Parties must prohibit sharing of food and beverages (e.g., buffet style meals, snacks), unless individuals are members of the same household. Adequate space should be reserved for students, faculty, and staff to observe social distancing while eating meals. 11 Small Spaces • Responsible Parties should limit gathering in small spaces (e.g., elevators, supply rooms, faculty offices) by more than one individual at a time, unless all individuals in such space at the same time are wearing acceptable face coverings or are members of the same household. However, even with face coverings in use, occupancy should not exceed 50% of the maximum capacity of the space, unless it is designed for use by a single occupant. Faculty and Staff Meetings • Pursuant to their school reopening plan, Responsible Parties may consider choosing to use video or teleconferencing for faculty and staff meetings and conferences to reduce the density of congregations, per CDC guidance “Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)”. When videoconferencing or teleconferencing is not preferable or possible, Responsible Parties may choose to hold meetings in open, well-ventilated spaces and ensure that individuals maintain appropriate social distance (e.g., leave space between chairs, have individuals sit in alternating chairs). Ventilation • Responsible Parties should increase ventilation with outdoor air to the greatest extent possible (e.g., opening windows and doors) while maintaining health and safety protocols. Common Areas • Responsible Parties should take additional measures to prevent congregation in elevator waiting areas and limit density in elevators, by, for instance, enabling the use of stairs. • Responsible Parties may choose to encourage social distancing by reducing access to, or closing, non-essential amenities and communal areas that do not allow for adequate social distancing protocols to be followed. If open, Responsible Parties should make hand sanitizer or disinfecting wipes available near such amenities or areas (e.g., vending machines, communal coffee stations). o However, Responsible Parties should not provide cleaning and disinfecting supplies to students, particularly younger students, nor should students be present when disinfectants are in use. • Responsible Parties should put in place practices for adequate social distancing in small areas, such as restrooms and breakrooms, and should develop signage and systems (e.g., flagging when occupied) to restrict occupancy when social distancing cannot be maintained in such areas. • To the extent practical, Responsible Parties may consider staggering schedules for faculty and staff to reduce density and promote social distancing in enclosed areas (e.g., coffee breaks, meals, and shift starts/stops). C. Operational Activity Cohorts • Responsible Parties are recommended to cohort students to the extent practicable to limit potential exposure. “Cohorts,” particularly for younger students, are self-contained, pre-assigned groups of students with reasonable group size limits set forth by the school in their plan. Responsible Parties should enact measures to prevent intermingling across cohorts, to the greatest extent possible (e.g., separation by appropriate social distancing, particular if there are multiple cohorts in one area). Responsible Parties should make reasonable efforts to ensure that cohorts are fixed – meaning contain the same students – for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Faculty may instruct more than one cohort so long as appropriate social distancing is maintained. 12 In-Person Instruction • • While the goal is to return all students to in-person instruction, due to the dynamic nature and risk of community transmission of COVID-19, Responsible Parties should prepare for a combination of inperson instruction and remote learning to facilitate a phased-in approach or hybrid model, which may be necessary at various times throughout the 2020-2021 school year. In such approaches and models, Responsible Parties may use video or teleconferencing in lieu of in-person gatherings (e.g., classes, office hours), per CDC guidance “Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)”. o In cases where in-person instruction is not feasible, phased-in and hybrid models of education will need to consider if certain students will be prioritized for in-person instruction first or more frequently based on educational or other needs (e.g., early grades, students with disabilities, English language learners), and must balance this with equity, capacity, social distancing, PPE, feasibility, and learning considerations. o If COVID-19 cases develop, Responsible Parties may consider restricting access within school facilities and across school grounds, particularly in affected areas to avoid full school closures. In such instances, Responsible Parties may choose to temporarily move classes where an individual has tested positive for COVID-19 to remote/virtual format until all contacts can be identified, notified, tested, and cleared. To maximize in-person instruction, Responsible Parties should consider measures that can be implemented to decrease density and congregation in school facilities and on school grounds, when possible, such as: o Finding alternative spaces in the community to allow for more in-person instruction; o adjusting class or work hours, where appropriate and possible; o limiting in-person presence to only those staff who are necessary to be at the school during normal school hours; o maintaining or increasing remote workforce (e.g., administrative staff) to accommodate social distancing guidelines; o staggering schedules and allowing more time between classes to reduce congestion in hallways, walkways, and buildings; and/or o shifting design of class schedules to accommodate social distancing guidelines, including cohorts (e.g., alternative classroom schedules, full-time in-person learning for younger students, and part-time distance learning for older students). D. Movement and Commerce Student Drop-Off and Pick-Up • Responsible Parties should establish designated areas for student drop-off and pick-up, limiting contact and entry of parents/legal guardians into the building, to the greatest extent possible. Deliveries • Responsible Parties should establish designated areas for pickups and deliveries, limiting contact to the extent possible. Faculty/Staff Entrances and Exits • To the extent feasible, Responsible Parties should limit on-site interactions (e.g., designating separate ingress or egress for faculty and staff, eliminating bidirectional flow of individuals to the extent practicable). 13 Shared Objects • Responsible Parties should put in place plans or measures to limit the sharing of objects, such as lockers, cubbies, laptops, notebooks, touchscreens, writing utensils, chalk and dry erase boards, musical instruments, tools, and toys, as well as the touching of shared surfaces, such as conference tables and desks; or require students, faculty, and staff to perform hand hygiene before and after contact. II. PLACES A. Personal Protective Equipment • Acceptable face coverings for COVID-19 include but are not limited to cloth-based face coverings (e.g., homemade sewn, quick cut, bandana), and surgical masks that cover both the mouth and nose. Face shields worn without other face coverings are not considered adequate protection or source control against COVID-19 and should not be used. o Responsible Parties and faculty may use alternate PPE (i.e., face coverings that are transparent at or around the mouth) for instruction or interventions that require visualization of the movement of the lips and/or mouths (e.g., speech therapy). These alternate coverings may also be used for certain students (e.g., hearing impaired) who benefit from being able to see more of the face of the faculty or staff member. • However, cloth-based face coverings or disposable masks shall not be considered acceptable face coverings for workplace activities that require a higher degree of protection for PPE due to the nature of the work. For those types of activities, N-95 respirators or other PPE used under existing industry standards should continue to be used, in accordance with OSHA guidelines. • In addition to the necessary PPE as required for certain workplace activities, Responsible Parties must procure, fashion, or otherwise obtain acceptable face coverings and provide such coverings to their faculty and staff who directly interact with students or members of the public while at work at no cost to the faculty or staff member, pursuant to Executive Order 202.16, as amended and extended. • Responsible Parties should have an adequate supply of face coverings, masks, and other required PPE on hand should faculty or staff need a replacement, or a student be in need. • Responsible Parties must advise students, faculty, staff, and visitors that they are required to wear face coverings in common areas or situations where social distancing may be difficult to maintain, such as riding in elevators, entering/exiting classrooms or student centers, walking in hallways, and traveling around school buildings. • Responsible Parties must allow students, faculty, and staff to use their own acceptable face coverings, but cannot require faculty and staff to supply their own face coverings. Further, this guidance shall not prevent employees from wearing their personally owned protective coverings (e.g., surgical masks, N-95 respirators, face shields), as long as they adhere to the minimum standards of protection for the specific activity. Responsible Parties may otherwise require employees to wear more protective PPE due to the nature of their work. If applicable, employers should comply with all applicable OSHA standards. • Responsible Parties may request that students bring their own face covering, but may not require it and must procure, fashion, or otherwise obtain acceptable face coverings and provide such coverings to any student who does not have their own, at no cost to the student. • Face coverings should be cleaned or replaced after use and must not be shared. Students and parents/legal guardians should take responsibility for maintaining their face coverings. Please consult CDC guidance for additional information on cloth face coverings and other types of PPE, as well as instructions on use and cleaning. 14 B. Hygiene, Cleaning and Disinfection Hygiene • Responsible Parties must ensure adherence to hygiene and cleaning and disinfection requirements as advised by the CDC and DOH, including “Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection of Public and Private Facilities for COVID-19,” and the “STOP THE SPREAD” poster, as applicable. Responsible Parties must maintain logs that include the date, time, and scope of cleaning and disinfection. Responsible Parties must identify cleaning and disinfection frequency for each facility type and assign responsibility. • Responsible Parties must train all students, faculty, and staff on proper hand and respiratory hygiene, and should provide information to parents and/or legal guardians on ways to reinforce this at home. • Responsible Parties must provide and maintain hand hygiene stations around the school, as follows: o For handwashing: soap, running warm water, and disposable paper towels. o For hand sanitizing: an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol for areas where handwashing facilities may not be available or practical. ▪ o • School medical or health directors should approve and permit the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers in school facilities without individual’s physician orders as alcohol-based hand sanitizers are considered over-the-counter drugs. Student use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers should always be supervised by adults to minimize accidental ingestion and promote safe usage; supervision is required for elementary school students. Parents/guardians can inform the school that they do not want their child to use alcoholbased hand sanitizers by sending a written notice to the school. Schools must provide accommodations for students who cannot use hand sanitizer, to allow for their use of handwashing stations. Make hand sanitizer available throughout common areas. It should be placed in convenient locations, such as at building, classroom, and cafeteria entrances and exits. Touch-free hand sanitizer dispensers should be installed where possible. ▪ Responsible Parties should place signage near hand sanitizer stations indicating that visibly soiled hands should be washed with soap and water; hand sanitizer is not effective on visibly soiled hands. ▪ Responsible Parties should remind individuals that alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be flammable and may not be suitable for certain areas in school facilities and on school grounds. Responsible Parties should place receptacles around the school for disposal of soiled items, including paper towels and PPE. Cleaning and Disinfection • Responsible Parties should ensure that cleaning and disinfection are the primary responsibility of the school’s custodial staff. However, Responsible Parties may also choose to provide appropriate cleaning and disinfection supplies to faculty and staff for shared and frequently touched surfaces: o Consider providing disposable wipes to faculty and staff so that commonly used surfaces (e.g., keyboards, desks, remote controls) can be wiped down before and/or after use, followed by hand hygiene. o To reduce high-touch surfaces, Responsible Parties should install touch-free amenities, such as water-bottle refilling stations, trash receptacles and paper towel dispensers, where feasible. 15 • o If installing touch-free amenities is not feasible, Responsible Parties should, at a minimum, make hand sanitizer available near high-touch surfaces (e.g., trash receptacles, paper towel dispensers). o Responsible Parties should consider closing water drinking fountains (unless they are configured as a bottle refilling station) and encourage students, faculty, and staff to bring their own water bottles or use disposable cups. Responsible Parties must conduct regular cleaning and disinfection of the facilities and more frequent cleaning and disinfection for high-risk areas used by many individuals and for frequently touched surfaces, including desks and cafeteria tables which should be cleaned and disinfected between each individual’s use, if shared. If cohorts are used, cleaning and disinfection may take place between each cohort’s use rather than each individual. Cleaning and disinfection must be rigorous and ongoing and should occur at least daily, or more frequently as needed. Please refer to DOH’s “Interim Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection of Public and Private Facilities for COVID-19” and “Interim Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection of Primary and Secondary Schools for COVID-19” for detailed instructions on how to clean and disinfect facilities. o Responsible Parties must ensure regular cleaning and disinfection of restrooms. Restrooms should be cleaned and disinfected more often depending on frequency of use. o Responsible Parties should ensure that materials and tools used by employees are regularly cleaned and disinfected using registered disinfectants. Refer to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) list of products registered in New York State and identified by the EPA as effective against COVID-19. ▪ o If cleaning or disinfection products or the act of cleaning and disinfection causes safety hazards or degrades the material or machinery, Responsible Parties must put in place hand hygiene stations between use and/or supply disposable gloves and/or limitations on the number of employees using such machinery. Best practices to implement in residential, shared (i.e., communal) bathrooms include, but are not limited to: ▪ Installation of physical barriers between toilets and sinks if six feet of separation is not feasible; and ▪ Use of touch-free paper towel dispensers in lieu of air dryers. o Responsible Parties must ensure distancing rules are adhered to by using signage, occupied markers, or other methods to reduce restroom occupancy at any given time, where feasible. Cleaning and Disinfection Following Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Case • Responsible Parties must provide for the cleaning and disinfection of exposed areas in the event an individual is confirmed to have COVID-19, with such cleaning and disinfection to include, at a minimum, all heavy transit areas and high-touch surfaces. • Responsible Parties are expected to follow CDC guidelines on “Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility,” if someone is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19: o Close off areas used by the person who is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19. ▪ Responsible Parties do not necessarily need to close operations, if they can close off the affected areas (e.g., classroom, restroom, hallway), but they should consult with local health departments in development of their protocols. o Open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in the area. o Wait 24 hours before you clean and disinfect, unless waiting 24 hours is not feasible, in which case, wait as long as possible. 16 o Clean and disinfect all areas used by the person suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19, such as offices, classrooms, bathrooms, lockers, and common areas. o Once the area has been appropriately cleaned and disinfected, it can be reopened for use. o ▪ Individuals without close or proximate contact with the person suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 can return to the area and resume school activities immediately after cleaning and disinfection. ▪ Refer to DOH’s “Interim Guidance for Public and Private Employees Returning to Work Following COVID-19 Infection or Exposure” for information on “close and proximate” contacts. If more than seven days have passed since the person who is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 visited or used the facility, additional cleaning and disinfection is not necessary, but routine cleaning and disinfection should continue. C. Coordination and Phased Reopening • Responsible Parties must designate a COVID-19 safety coordinator whose responsibilities include continuous compliance with all aspects of the school’s reopening plan, as well as any phased-in reopening activities necessary to allow for operational issues to be resolved before activities return to normal or “new normal” levels. D. Communications Plan • Responsible Parties must affirm that they have reviewed and understand the State-issued industry guidelines and must submit reopening plans, as outlined above and instructed below, prior to reopening. o Please note that the State will decide on reopening dates for Pre-K through Grade 12 schools in early August 2020. • Responsible Parties must engage with school stakeholders and community members (e.g., administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents/legal guardians of students, local health departments, local health care providers, and affiliated organizations, such as unions, alumni, and/or communitybased groups) when developing reopening plans. Plans for reopening should identify the groups of people involved and engaged throughout the planning process. • Responsible Parties must develop a communications plan for students, parents or legal guardians of students, staff, and visitors that includes applicable instructions, training, signage, and a consistent means to provide individuals with information. Responsible Parties may consider developing webpages, text and email groups, and/or social media groups or posts. • Responsible Parties must ensure all students are taught or trained how to follow new COVID-19 protocols safely and correctly, including but not limited to hand hygiene, proper face covering wearing, social distancing, and respiratory hygiene. • Responsible Parties must encourage all students, faculty, staff, and visitors through verbal and written communication (e.g., signage) to adhere to CDC and DOH guidance regarding the use of PPE, specifically acceptable face coverings, when a social distance cannot be maintained. • Responsible Parties should designate a coordinator or other point(s)-of-contact to be the main contact upon the identification of positive COVID-19 cases and to be responsible for subsequent communication. Coordinators should be responsible for answering questions from students, faculty, staff, and parents or legal guardians of students regarding the COVID-19 public health emergency and plans implemented by the school. 17 o Coordinators should also work closely with local health departments and other schools to monitor public health conditions and jointly develop monitoring strategies. E. Residential Living Considerations • For schools with students who reside on campus, Responsible Parties must consider the following as they develop their plans: o Residence halls: Plans should include protocols for capacity limits, enhanced cleaning and disinfection, appropriate social distancing, use of acceptable face coverings in common areas, restrictions on non-essential gatherings and activities, limited access by students to other residential facilities (e.g., dormitories), restrictions of visitors, special housing considerations for students who are immunocompromised or who have an underlying health condition, separate living spaces for persons undergoing isolation or quarantine, and a modified set of rules for students to follow; o Residential testing: Plan for screening all students and faculty upon return, and to ensure diagnostic testing for any students or faculty members who screen positive for potential COVID19 infection upon return, especially including any individuals with recent international or longdistance travel, or travel from designated states with widespread community transmission of COVID-19, as identified through the New York State Travel Advisory; o Residential isolation and quarantine: Isolation (for individuals with suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19) or quarantine (for individuals exposed to a suspected or confirmed case of COVID19, or who have recently traveled internationally or in states with widespread COVID-19 transmission) of individuals residing on school grounds may become necessary and schools should develop plans, in consultation with the local health department, that specify where individuals will be residing (e.g., dedicated residence hall, hotel, home) and the support system that will be implemented to meet daily needs (e.g., food, medication, psychosocial, academic and/or other support) throughout the duration of their isolation or quarantine. Plans should include measures to monitor and provide medical care and other health services to students who test positive and are in isolation, need more advanced medical care, or who are awaiting test results; and o Residence move-out: Plans need to be put in place for how students should safely depart residence halls in the event of a closure. Schools should consider policies for students who may not be able to depart campus quickly (e.g. international students). III. PROCESSES A. Screening and Testing Health Screening and Temperature Checks • Responsible Parties must implement mandatory health screenings, including temperature checks, of students, faculty, staff, and, where applicable, contractors, vendors, and visitors to identify any individuals who may have COVID-19 or who may have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus. o Temperature checks should be conducted per U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or DOH guidelines. Specifically, all individuals must have their temperature checked each day – ideally, at home, prior to departing to school – before entering any school facility. If an individual presents a temperature of greater than 100.0°F, the individual must be denied entry into the facility, or sent directly to a dedicated area prior to being picked up or otherwise sent home. 18 o Responsible Parties must also use a daily screening questionnaire for faculty and staff reporting to school; and periodically use a questionnaire for students, particularly younger students, who may require the assistance of their parent/legal guardian to answer. ▪ o o Responsible Parties are prohibited from keeping records of student, faculty, staff, and visitor health data (e.g., the specific temperature data of an individual), but are permitted to maintain records that confirm individuals were screened and the result of such screening (e.g., pass/fail, cleared/not cleared). Screening is strongly recommended to be conducted remotely (e.g. by electronic survey, digital application, or telephone, which may involve the parent/legal guardian), before the individual reports to school, to the extent possible; or may be performed on site at the school. ▪ Remote screening should be coordinated to identify individuals who should not go to school and should be referred to their health care provider for further evaluation and COVID-19 testing. ▪ On-site screening should be coordinated in a manner that prevents individuals from intermingling in close or proximate contact with each other prior to completion of the screening. Screening for all students, faculty, staff, and, where practicable, visitors, contractors, and vendors, must be completed using a questionnaire that determines whether the individual has: (a) knowingly been in close or proximate contact in the past 14 days with anyone who has tested positive through a diagnostic test for COVID-19 or who has or had symptoms of COVID-19; (b) tested positive through a diagnostic test for COVID-19 in the past 14 days; (c) has experienced any symptoms of COVID-19, including a temperature of greater than 100.0°F, in the past 14 days; and/or (d) has traveled internationally or from a state with widespread community transmission of COVID-19 per the New York State Travel Advisory in the past 14 days. • As able, Responsible Parties should consider implementing health screening practices for unscheduled visitors (e.g., members of the public allowed to use school grounds). • Refer to CDC guidance on “Symptoms of Coronavirus” for the most up to date information on symptoms associated with COVID-19. o • Please note that the manifestation of COVID-19 in children, although similar, is not always the same as that for adults. Children may be less likely to present with fever as an initial symptom, and may only have gastrointestinal tract symptoms, which should be taken into consideration during the screening process. Schools should also consider reminding parents/guardians that students may not attend school if they have had a temperature of greater than 100.0°F at any time in the past 14 days, even if a fever-reducing medication was administered and the student no longer has a fever. Responsible Parties should remain aware that quarantine of students, faculty, or staff may be required after international travel or travel within certain states with widespread community transmission of COVID-19, pursuant to current CDC and DOH guidance, as well as Executive Order 205. Positive Screen Protocols • Any individual who screens positive for COVID-19 exposure or symptoms, if screened at the school, must be immediately sent home with instructions to contact their health care provider for assessment and testing. 19 o Students who are being sent home because of a positive screen (e.g., onset of COVID-19 symptoms) must be immediately separated from other students and supervised until their parent/legal guardian or emergency contact can retrieve them from school. o Responsible Parties should provide such individuals with information on health care and testing resources, if applicable. o Responsible Parties must immediately notify the state and local health department about the case if diagnostic test results are positive for COVID-19. • Responsible Parties must require individuals to immediately disclose if and when their responses to any of the aforementioned questions changes, such as if they begin to experience symptoms, including during or outside of school hours. • Responsible Parties must establish policies, in consultation with the local health department(s), about the requirements for determining when individuals, particularly students, who screened positive for COVID-19 symptoms can return to the in-person learning environment. This returning to learning protocol must include at minimum documentation from a health care provider evaluation, negative COVID-19 testing, and symptom resolution, or if COVID-19 positive, release from isolation. • Responsible Parties must designate a central point of contact(s), which may vary by activity, location, shift or day, responsible for receiving and attesting to having reviewed all screening activities, with such contact(s) also identified as the party for individuals to inform if they later experience COVID19-related symptoms or COVID-19 exposure, as noted on the questionnaire. In-Person Screening • Responsible Parties must ensure that any personnel performing in-person screening activities, including temperature checks, are appropriately protected from exposure to potentially infectious individuals entering the facilities. Personnel performing screening activities should be trained by employer-identified individuals who are familiar with CDC, DOH, and OSHA protocols. • Screeners should be provided and use PPE, which includes at a minimum, an acceptable face covering or mask, and may also include gloves, a gown, and/or a face shield. B. School Health Offices • Responsible Parties may consider developing testing systems in school facilities or self-testing systems in collaboration with local health departments or local health care providers, as able. • Responsible Parties must develop protocols for caring for a student, faculty, or staff member who develops COVID-19 symptoms during the school day. These protocols must include: o Identification of a dedicated area to separate students, faculty, or staff with symptoms of COVID19 from others until they can go home or to a health care facility, depending on severity of illness; o Plans to ensure that symptomatic students who are waiting to be picked up remain under the visual supervision of a staff member who is socially distanced; o PPE requirements for school health office staff caring for sick individuals, which must include both standard and transmission-based precautions. In areas with moderate to substantial community transmission, eye protection (i.e., goggles or face shield) should be added. When caring for a suspect or confirmed individual with COVID-19, gloves, a gown, and a fit-tested N-95 respirator should be used, if available (or surgical face mask and face shield, if not available), as well as eye protection. Please consult CDC guidance for additional information; and o Required guidelines for cleaning and disinfection. 20 • Responsible Parties must develop protocols for asthma-related acute respiratory treatment care using up to date standard of care: o Nebulizer treatments and suctioning are identified by the CDC as aerosol-generating procedures requiring a N-95 mask fitted to the healthcare worker; o Consult with students’ healthcare providers for alternate asthma medication delivery systems; and o Consult with school maintenance and facilities department for environmental controls. C. Tracing and Tracking Metrics • Responsible Parties should identify clearly defined measures that will serve as warning signs that the level of COVID-19 transmission may be increasing in the school setting beyond an acceptable level, as defined by state and local health departments. o Responsible Parties must include a process in their plan if/when COVID-19 cases are discovered at school, including closing areas or classes where individuals were infected or more broadly the entire school in consultation with the local health department. o Responsible Parties may choose to modify operations prior to instituting school-wide closures to help mitigate a rise in cases. Notification • Responsible Parties must notify the state and local health department immediately upon being informed of any positive COVID-19 diagnostic test result by an individual in school facilities or on school grounds, including students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Tracing Support • In the case of an individual testing positive, Responsible Parties must develop plans to support local health departments in tracing all contacts of the individual, in accordance with the protocols, training, and tools provided through the New York State Contact Tracing Program. Confidentiality must be maintained as required by federal and state law and regulations. Responsible Parties must cooperate with state and local health department contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine efforts. o If feasible, Responsible Parties may offer optional tracing and tracking technology (e.g., mobile applications) to streamline contact tracing and communication process among their students, faculty, staff, parents/legal guardians of students, and community. o Responsible Parties should partner with local health departments to train older students, faculty, and staff to undertake contact tracing efforts for populations in school facilities and on school grounds, where feasible. Quarantine, Isolation, and Return to School • State and local health departments will implement monitoring and movement restrictions of COVID19 infected or exposed persons, including isolation or quarantine. • Responsible Parties must ensure that reporting plans are in place for individuals who are alerted that they have come into close or proximate contact with a person with COVID-19, and have been alerted to such exposure via tracing, tracking or other mechanism. • Responsible Parties should refer to DOH’s “Interim Guidance for Public and Private Employees Returning to Work Following COVID-19 Infection or Exposure” regarding protocols and policies for 21 faculty and staff seeking to return to work after a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 or after the faculty or staff member had close or proximate contact with a person with COVID-19. IV. SUBMISSION OF SCHOOL PLANS Responsible Parties must submit an affirmation at the below link that they have read and understand this guidance. Further, pursuant to this guidance, Responsible Parties must prepare and submit plan(s) for reopening and operating during the ongoing emergency by July 31, 2020. If an extension is required, Responsible Parties should contact DOH and either NYSED if they are a school district, BOCES, private school, or NYSED-authorized charter school, or SUNY if they are a SUNY-authorized charter school, for an extension. Plans should be presumed to be approved upon submission, unless otherwise notified by the State that modifications are necessary to ensure compliance with this guidance. Plans should reflect engagement with school stakeholders and community members (e.g., administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents/legal guardians of students, local health care providers, and affiliated organizations, such as unions, alumni, and/or community-based groups), particularly local health department(s), and, in accordance with the minimum requirements referenced herein, cover: (1) reopening of school facilities for in-person instruction, (2) monitoring of health conditions, (3) containment of potential transmission of the 2019 novel coronavirus, and (4) closure of school facilities and in-person instruction, if necessitated by widespread virus transmission. Responsible Parties must conspicuously post completed reopening plans at the school and on their website for faculty, staff, students, and parents and legal guardians of students to access. School districts and BOCES should use the following submission form link to file their plans with NYSED and DOH. DOH and/or NYSED may require such school districts and BOCES to modify their plans, to the extent necessary to ensure compliance with this guidance. Plans will be made publicly available. https://forms.ny.gov/s3/PK-12-Education-Reopening-Plan, then select “School Districts and BOCES” Charter schools should use the following submission form link to file their plans with DOH and their authorizer (i.e., NYSED or SUNY). DOH and/or NYSED/SUNY may require charter schools to modify their plans to the extent necessary to ensure compliance with this guidance. Plans will be made publicly available. https://forms.ny.gov/s3/PK-12-Education-Reopening-Plan, then select “Charter Schools” Private schools should use the following submission form link to file their plans with NYSED and DOH. DOH and/or NYSED may require private schools to modify their plans to the extent necessary to ensure compliance with this guidance. Plans will be made publicly available. https://forms.ny.gov/s3/PK-12-Education-Reopening-Plan, then select “Private Schools” 22 Additional safety information, guidelines, and resources are available at: New York State Department of Health Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Website https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/ New York State Education Department Coronavirus (COVID-19) Website http://www.nysed.gov/coronavirus Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Coronavirus (COVID-19) Website https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html Occupational Safety and Health Administration COVID-19 Website https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/ At the link below, affirm that you have read and understand your obligation to operate in accordance with this guidance: https://forms.ny.gov/s3/ny-forward-affirmation 23