As a result of Friday’s new CDC guidance, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is updating its COVID-19 protocols. The new guidance for the use of masks says that it’s safe for schools to drop masking except in high-risk areas. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said that based on new metrics, more than 70% of Americans – including school children – are now living in communities at low or medium risk – and can consider removing their masks.
KPBSD Superintendent Clayton Holland told KSRM:
“We put it out to our staff last week and then today it will go out to the public. We are making updates or have made updates for our COVID-19 mitigation plan that will go in effect on Friday. I include today’s coverings being optional for students and staff, school volunteers and visitors in school in all scenarios. Masks will still be required on bus transportation per DOT mandates on that. That’s really out of our control, we have to follow that. KPBSD schools will no longer do in-school contact tracing, but our school nurses are still available for staff and families with questions and how to get a free COVID-19 test or what to do if somebody does identify as a close contact. So, we’re making some changes, not as drastic for us I think as some of the other districts when they make these changes because we’ve been pretty flexible this whole year with how we’re doing things, but it still will be a significant change.”
ABC News states that, under the old guidelines, the CDC focused primarily on case numbers, but the new framework now also factors in COVID hospitalizations and hospital capacity to determine areas of low, medium, or high risk. For now, masks still are required on public transportation, as well as airports, train stations, and bus stations.
Click here for more information from the CDC.
KPBSD COVID-19 Mitigation Plan Updates effective 3-4-22