We insist that Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment adjust Close Contact Guidelines to no longer require that students and staff  quarantine if both the infected person and the person exposed/close contact were wearing masks.

The time is now to move forward with data, school staff vaccinations being completed, and the immense need to keep our children in school learning!

·       Ohio​, Utah​, Missouri​, Texas​, Nebraska​, Oklahoma​, Iowa and Wyoming have this guidance in place now that allows students who wear masks to stay in school and monitor for symptoms.

·     COVID-19 Cases and Transmission in 17 K–12 Schools — Wood County, Wisconsin, August 31–November 29, 2020 released from CDC clearly demonstrates when masks are worn in-school, transmission is low. 

·       Colorado has a statewide mask mandate. Staff and students wear masks in all public spaces limiting COVID-19 transmission coming from the community.

·       Colorado community rates are extremely low with much of our state moving into blue on the Colorado Dial. 

·       School staff vaccinations are underway with most districts finalizing second doses to all who elected to receive them. Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Authorized in the United States will allow school staff to not quarantine 14 days following their 2nd dose. 

·       Students and staff can elect to wear two masks to provide better protection. Improve the Fit and Filtration of Your Mask to Reduce the Spread of COVID-19

We must move forward with a balanced approach to reduce the risk of academic losses and negative impacts to our children and teens' mental and physical health caused by quarantines.