CDC releases new resources and tools to support opening schools

Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is releasing new science-based resources and tools for school administrators, teachers, parents, guardians, and caregivers when schools open this fall.

With states, cities, and communities around the United States experiencing different levels of coronavirus transmission, jurisdictions should ensure appropriate public health strategies are in place to slow the spread of COVID-19 as the first step in creating a safer school environment. Then, working in collaboration with their state and local health departments, school administrators can employ strategies that best match the local conditions and actions that are practical and feasible in their schools to help protect the health and safety of everyone – including students, teachers, and other staff.

“It is critically important for our public health to open schools this fall,” said CDC Director Dr. Robert R. Redfield. “The CDC resources released today will help parents, teachers and administrators make practical, safety-focused decisions as this school year begins. I know this has been a difficult time for our Nation’s families. School closures have disrupted normal ways of life for children and parents, and they have had negative health consequences on our youth. CDC is prepared to work with K-12 schools to safely reopen while protecting the most vulnerable.”

The resources and tools made available today support how to open schools safely by promoting behaviors that prevent spread, altering how a school and school day is structured, and outlining how to keep the school environment healthy through cleaning, proper ventilation, and other practices. The resources and tools also describe what to do to guard against someone who might be sick from infecting others and what to do if this occurs.

The resources, available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/index.html, also provide students, school administrators, parents, guardians, or caregivers the information they need to guide their decision-making on attending in-person curriculum and how to adapt to local conditions.

CDC will host a media telebriefing tomorrow with Dr. Redfield to discuss the new resources:

CDC will host a media telebriefing tomorrow with Dr. Redfield to discuss the new resources:

What
CDC provide an update to media on the COVID-19 response, including school reopening guidance

Who
Robert Redfield, M.D., CDC Director
Mitchell Zais, Ph.D., Deputy Secretary of Education
Erin K. Sauber-Schatz, Ph.D., Lead, CDC Community Interventions and Critical Populations Task Force for the COVID-19 response

When
12:30 p.m. ET Friday, July 24, 2020

Media: 800-857-9756
International: 1-630-395-0026
PASSCODE: CDC MEDIA

Non-Media: 800-988-9652
International:  1-517-308-9161
PASSCODE:  8366031

Important Instructions
Due to anticipated high volume, please plan to dial in to the telebriefing 15 minutes before the start time.

Media: If you would like to ask a question during the call, press *1 on your touchtone phone. Press *2 to withdraw your question. You may queue up at any time. You will hear a tone to indicate your question is pending.

TRANSCRIPT
A transcript will be available following the briefing at CDC’s web site: www.cdc.gov/media.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether disease start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.