WA Updates COVID Guidance For K-12 Schools

OLYMPIA, WA — The state Department of Health updated its COVID-19 guidance for K-12 schools and child care providers for the next school year, keeping some measures intact while updating and relaxing others.

“We are entering a new stage of coexisting with COVID-19 in our communities, knowing that COVID-19 is here to stay for the foreseeable future,” said Dr. Umair Shah, the state Secretary of Health. “DOH also recognizes the importance of being able to maintain in-person learning for children, and the fundamental links between education and long-term health outcomes.”

Under the new guidance, educational employees, volunteers and contractors will still be required to be fully vaccinated or have an approved medical or religious exemption, per the governor's orders. Students and staffers are also required to stay home if they have symptoms consistent with COVID-19. The state also adjusted the timeline for returning to school to align with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Schools are also required to ensure access to testing, either on-site or at a centralized location for the school district.

Here are some of the key updates in the guidance for the 2022-23 school year:

• Students, children, and staff who test positive for COVID-19 are required to stay at home and isolate for 5 days. Repeating initial COVID-19 testing will not affect this requirement.
• Students, children, and staff returning from 5 days of isolation should wear a well-fitted mask from days 6 to 10. Those returning are encouraged to test before doing so.
• Schools and child care providers are no longer required to directly notify high risk individuals of exposure but must continue to have a process in place to inform students, staff, and families of cases and outbreaks.
• Schools and child care providers continue to be required to report outbreaks (3 or more cases within a specified core group) to local health jurisdictions (LHJ) and to have a system in place to respond.

Parents and educators can review the full slate of changes on the Department of Health's website.