Department for Public Health recommends everyone wear masks in schools

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ/Press Release) – As the 2021-2022 school year approaches, the Kentucky Department for Public Health has issued its recommendations for in-person learning.

The department released Guidance for K-12 School Operations for In-Person Learning on July 28. One big takeaway is that everyone in a K-12 setting should wear a mask when indoors. Additionally, it recommends students should go back to full-time in-person learning as long as layered prevention strategies are in place.

Those strategies include:

• Vaccination for those 12 or older;
• Masks for all persons while indoors;
• Physical distancing of at least 3 feet;
• Screening testing for unvaccinated individuals;
• Ventilation;
• Handwashing and facility disinfection; and
• Isolation, quarantine and contact tracing.

The guidance hopes to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 as the Delta variant presents more problems nationwide.

School and district leaders are encouraged to review the updated guidance documents and allow them to inform their decision making.

For questions regarding the latest guidance, the public is advised to check with the local health department.