March 1, 2022
Dear Superintendents and School Leaders,

I'm writing with updates on several COVID-19-related items that have arisen since my last message.

New Guidance Impact on School Employees
Yesterday, Gov. Newsom signed an executive order that updates the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) to reflect new indoor masking guidance.

Under this executive order, effective today, unvaccinated workers are no longer required to wear masks indoors in most settings. Masks are still required indoors for all people in K-12 schools and child care settings until March 12. It’s also important to note that the California Department of Public Health still strongly recommends that masks be worn by vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals in indoor settings. 

The executive order also extends the current ETS through May 5, 2022, to ensure the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board has time to review the new guidance in anticipation of the next readoption of the ETS.  

This executive order is specific to indoor masking for employees and does not change the current Cal/OSHA requirements for employee testing in response to potential exposures, or the weekly testing requirement for K-12 employees who have not provided evidence that they are fully vaccinated per the state public health officer order of Aug. 11, 2021.

State Clarifies School Bus Masking Requirements
The California Safe Schools for All team has clarified how yesterday’s announcement about face coverings impacts students on school buses:
  • School buses serving K-12 populations are considered a school setting and accordingly, masking remains required through March 11, 2022, after which time masking will be strongly recommended.  
  • After March 11, 2022, the following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statement regarding the requirement for face masks on public transportation will be relevant in California: “CDC is exercising its enforcement discretion to not require that people wear masks on buses or vans operated by public or private school systems … CDC plans to amend its Mask Order as soon as practicable to not require that people wear masks while outdoors on conveyances or while outdoors on the premises of transportation hubs, and to not require that people wear masks on buses or vans operated by public or private school systems.”  
  • Additionally, as is always the case: (1) state requirements and recommendations are subject to change, and (2) local health agencies and/or educational authorities may have additional requirements beyond state and federal requirements.
  • When practicable and safe, California Department of Public Health recommends optimizing air quality on school buses by opening windows to create more ventilation.

We will share additional information and resources as they become available. Thank you for all that you do. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
Paul

Dr. Paul Gothold
San Diego County Superintendent of Schools
phone: 858-295-6641