August 21, 2020
On July 30, our agency released COVID-19 recommendations for K-12 schools in our health
jurisdiction (schools in Cuyahoga County with the exception of those in the City of Cleveland)
for the upcoming school year:
https://www.ccbh.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/CCBH-school-recs-7.30.20.pdf.
In this guidance, we recommend that schools begin the 2020-21 schoolyear operating remotely
and that schools discontinue sports and other extracurricular activities during the remote
learning period. We provided further clarification to this guidance on August 6:
https://www.ccbh.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/CCBH-HC-letter-re-school-recs-8.6.20.pdf
As school districts review the recommendations and their plans, we recognize and respect their
responsibility to make the decisions that best meet the needs of their respective school
communities. As stated previously, these are recommendations, not Board of Health Orders,
designed to provide evidence-based guidance. They were developed in response to requests
from many school administrators for direction in terms of public health best practices.
We understand that school districts may exercise their discretion as they work though their
final decision processes. We also understand that they may choose a different path. We know
that a number of school districts have chosen full in-person or hybrid approaches. Others have
adopted remote approaches to curriculum delivery. Similarly, several school districts have
chosen to institute some form or extracurricular and sports activities. Others have
discontinued these activities. We are committed to work with all of our schools as they
implement their final plans.
We realize that the pandemic has made life very difficult for many children and families. We
continue to meet with school superintendents on a weekly basis, with the facilitation of the
Educational Services Center of Northeast Ohio. We also respond to daily requests for guidance
from individual school districts regarding return-to school protocols, athletics or contact tracing
of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

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 We clearly recognize that education and extracurricular activities are very important part of
children’s mental and physical health. We also understand the importance of resuming inperson activities when it is safe to do so. We will continue to support schools by providing
surveillance, outbreak investigation and contact tracing for any outbreaks that are detected in
the school environment. We are currently responding to COVID-19 cases associated with
return-to-play sports in multiple school districts.
On August 20, Governor DeWine announced that Cuyahoga County would be moving to Risk
Level 2 Public Emergency or “Orange” in the Ohio Public Health Advisory System for the first
time. The Risk Level 2 designation indicates increased exposure and spread above the Level 1
designation. Counties at Risk Level 2 are advised by the Ohio Department of Health to exercise
a high degree of caution.
This is certainly welcome news and an indication that we are beginning to move in the right
direction. We will continue to monitor our local trends and share information each week about
COVID-19 activity in our community.
Bearing in mind all of the information shared in this communication, we maintain our current
recommendations under the current Risk Level 2 designation. The following factors are being
monitored to determine the trends for COVID-19 transmission in the community and for school
decision making:
Positivity Rates – A sustained decline in COVID-19 testing positivity rates below 5%
New Case Reports – A sustained decline in new cases, over a month period
State Public Health Advisory System – A Risk Rating of “Orange” or 2, or below over multiple
weeks, which includes sustained improvement in the metrics as they relate specifically
to our health jurisdiction.
COVID-19 testing capacity for children – there is currently little to no testing available for those
under the age of 18 which dramatically complicates our outbreak response in the school
setting. The lack of testing limits our response to a symptom-based investigation only
We face significant challenges ahead, including flu season, which is just around the corner. We
anticipate that COVID-19 and flu will circulate in our community at the same time. Please
continue to emphasize handwashing, cleaning and disinfecting, social distancing and facial
coverings at all times.
Thank you for your commitment to keeping our community safe and healthy.

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