We expect to receive additional details in the coming weeks that will apply to school operations in the 2021-22 school year, but this high-level guidance has enough information that it can be implemented beginning Monday, July 12 for the remainder of summer school.
According to IDPH, masks should be worn indoors by all individuals (age 2 and older) who are not fully vaccinated. This guidance also says that schools should maintain three feet of physical distance between students within classrooms wherever possible, combined with indoor mask wearing by people who are not fully vaccinated, to reduce transmission risk.
Students who are not fully vaccinated should wear a mask in summer school, students who are fully vaccinated may wear a mask if they choose to. We ask parents and guardians to guide their children accordingly. As with all forms of public transportation, the guidance states that masks are required for all persons on school buses regardless of vaccination status.
As the CDC and IDPH said, achieving high levels of COVID-19 vaccination among eligible students as well as teachers, staff, and household members is the leading strategy to help schools safely resume full operations. July 13 is the last day to receive the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine in time to be fully vaccinated for the first day of school, August 18.
We will continue to monitor any updates closely and will communicate with you when we have more information to share. The information at the links I shared in the first paragraph above is all the information we have at this time.
We are encouraged by the news we received today and look forward to seeing everyone on campus in August, but there is still some summer left and I hope you enjoy it.
