NEWS RELEASE - New Standards to Protect Students, Staff, and Community From COVID-19 With Collaboration From UCSD Experts

[page2image33749632]

News Release

New Standards to Protect Students, Staff and Community From COVID-19 With Collaboration from UCSD Experts
Reopening Schools Hinges on Improved Public Health Conditions, Focus on Masks, Proper Ventilation, Strict Social Distancing, Critical Classroom Protections
August 10, 2020
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Unified School District will adopt strict new standards to protect students, staff and the community from the spread of COVID-19. The measures are being adopted and developed in consultation with top experts on multiple aspects of the pandemic from the University of California, San Diego. As a result, conditions for reopening local schools will be stricter than state standards, will proceed in phases, and will require critical protective measures including mandatory masks, proper ventilation, and strict social distancing according to district leaders.
State standards for reopening schools already require a seven-day testing positivity rate of less than 8 percent and other factors, but the expert panel convened by San Diego Unified called for adding contact tracing metrics and other factors included in the County of San Diego health triggers. Before in-person schools can resume, strict safety protocols must also be in place. A complete list of recommended metrics and mitigations is attached to the end of this document.
"We consulted with the world's leading experts on all aspects of this pandemic, because we wanted a comprehensive set of standards to create the safest possible environment for our students and staff," said Dr. Howard Taras, UCSD professor and consulting pediatrician for San Diego Unified, who oversaw the expert panel. "The strength in these new standards comes precisely from this combination of factors. Taken together, they represent the strictest reasonable conditions for safety when operations eventually resume."
Board President Dr. John Lee Evans said the new standards reflect the Board's commitment to let science dictate the pace and process for reopening schools.
"The health and safety of our students and staff have been at the heart of every decision we have made since the start of this crisis," Evans said. "We closed classrooms before the rest of the State realized it was the right thing to do. We made that decision to save lives. In the same way, our new health standards go farther than the rest of the state, and it is the right thing to do, because it will save lives. These metrics will help lead our continued planning for an eventual safe reopening."
The San Diego Unified health and safety standards eliminated some of the confusing and contradictory language regarding masks and social distancing in guidance produced by other agencies. Masks will be required for all students and staff on San Diego Unified campuses.
"The advice we heard most clearly from the public health experts is that going back to school must be a community-wide effort," said Board Vice President Richard Barrera. "Everyone has to hold themselves accountable to the highest safety standards if we truly want to get this virus under control so our students can get back to school. That means: wear a mask, practice social distancing and maintain good hygiene, because we truly are all in this together."
Superintendent Cindy Marten said schools will be ready to reopen when conditions in the community allow them to do so. She announced the purchase of more than $11 million in personal protective equipment (PPE) and said the district has received some 200,000 masks in child and adult sizes from the state, along with 14,000 bottles of hand sanitizer. All schools, Marten said, will follow the strict standards for reopening advised by the UCSD experts.
"The COVID-19 crisis has radically changed every part of our lives, and schools are no different. We must adapt to this new reality because it may be with us for years to come. That is why we are taking every step necessary to reopen in the safest, most responsible way possible," Superintendent Marten said.
Marten said she shared the new health and safety guidelines on a morning call with principals from across San Diego Unified and highlighted masks, social distancing and air quality as the most important factors schools must reassess in light of the new standards. Principals, administrators, educators, and students, she said, are all eager to get back to the classroom, although they recognize that is not possible at this point in time.
"The fact our country has just passed another grim milestone in the history of this disease – more than 5 million confirmed cases, makes it clear this is not yet the right time to begin a phased reopening, but our schools will be ready when that time comes," Marten said.
President of the San Diego Education Association (SDEA) Kisha Borden agreed with the decision, previously announced, that San Diego Unified will start the new school year online.
"We want to get back into our classrooms with our students and we need the support of the entire community to do the right thing by wearing masks, avoiding gatherings, and listening to the science. The scientific community has made it clear there are no shortcuts on the road to safely reopening schools. We have a long road ahead of us, but we're doing the right things to keep everyone safe," Borden said.
She added, "Even as our colleagues, the scientists and the school administrators, challenge themselves to rethink what schools look like inside and outside, our professional educators are ready to provide the best possible online experience for our students to start the school year."
The San Diego Unified Council of PTAs also backed the science-based approach. "The health and safety of children, families & school staff are of the utmost importance at this time," said Mahogany Taylor, President and Derick Boerner, Immediate Past President. "We appreciate the school district's efforts in working with the medical community to lay out clear guidelines for when our schools can safely reopen for in-person instruction. Science should guide the reopening plans as we prepare the upcoming school year. We feel the District is providing that in the message today. We look forward to the continued partnership that PTA has with SDUSD as we prepare to start another year of learning for our children."
MEDIA CONTACT: Michael Murad, Communications Department (619) 925-4790

Conditions for Full Reopening

As of 8/10/2020; To be revised under consultation as science advances
State criteria

* 14-day case rate of <100/100,000; Measured using date of illness onset with a 3-day lag County = calculated with County of San Diego data State
* Testing positivity rate of <8% of positive tests as a percent of total tests, measured using specimen collection date in a 7-day period with a 7-day lag
* Less than 10% increase in the average number of confirmed COVID-19 patients hospitalized
* Availability of >20% of staffed ICU beds and of >25% of ventilators
Additional (primarily County) criteria

* Fewer than 7 outbreaks over a 7-day period
* More than 70% of investigations are initiated within 24 hours of notification of a positive case (also over a 7-day period)
* Contact tracers make a first contact attempt for more than 70% of close contacts of new positive cases within 24 hours of identification
* Community Outbreaks: Fewer than seven new outbreaks in community settings in a 7-day period
* Downward trajectory of influenza-like illnesses and COVID-like illness reported within a 14-day period
* Hospital Capacity: Less than 80% capacity for all hospital beds in the county
* PPE Supply: more than 50% of hospitals have at least a 22-day supply of PPE
* Homeless Population: Temporary shelter available for more than 15% of homeless population
School infrastructure and supplies

* All adults and children in school buildings wear a face covering or mask, unless eating, or the person is alone in a room
* Face shields, disposable gloves and gowns provided for those who have anticipated contact with stool, urine, saliva, blood of students
* For health office staff who are assessing and managing with students with symptoms, they will be given surgical-style masks and face shields (and with fit-tested N95 masks, as available in community), as per Cal-OSHA regulations
* Rooms that do not have good natural ventilation and no MERV 13 filter in the HVAC system equipped with portable air cleaners, with proper 'clean air delivery rate' (CADR)
* All public spaces reconfigured to allow for physical distancing measures, including appropriate signage and barriers as needed
* Isolation areas for students, staff with symptoms to await ride home
* Restrooms marked outside of entry for the maximum number of users
* Ample supplies of disinfectant to provide for daily cleaning of handrails on stairs, ramps, and all items in classrooms and touchable objects throughout
* Ample supplies of hand sanitizers, sinks and/or handwashing stations placed strategically on campus and administrative buildings
* Training materials tailored for parents, staff and students on safety protocols
* No-touch thermometers for screening
Eugene Brucker Education Center: 4100 Normal Street Rm. 2144: San Diego, CA 92103-2682: www.sandi.net

[page1image34041632]