PA Issues New School Distancing Guidance

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania officials on Tuesday announced updated recommendations for schools on social distancing in classrooms and how to handle coronanvirus cases in school buildings. The state Department of Health also updated guidance on summer camp instruction, but there are few changes from last year's mandates.

Effective April 5, here's what you can expect:

Conforming with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations that reflect the latest research, some Pennsylvania students may now be at least 3 feet apart in classrooms. The previous requirement was 6 feet. Universal masking remains a requirement.

In elementary schools, students should be at least 3 feet apart. In middle and high schools, students should be at least 3 feet apart in counties with low and moderate community transmission. In substantial counties, middle and high school students should be 6 feet apart if cohorting is not possible.

Additionally, 6 feet of distance must be maintained when masks can't be worn in situations such as eating and during activities when increased exhalation occurs, such as singing, shouting, band, or sports and exercise.

“The department continues its efforts to work with schools to provide guidance when a case occurs,” COVID-19 Response Director Wendy Braund said in a news release.

“This includes actions related to cleaning and disinfecting, isolation and quarantine recommendations, and actions to recommend the closure of schools or school buildings. We continue to encourage districts to use the to use the percent positivity in counties, as well
as the number of cases in a school in the decision making process as we all work to keep Pennsylvania children safe and in school.”

The state also has updated recommendations on how school entities should handle confirmed cases of COVID-19 in school buildings. The recommendations consider the level of community transmission in each county, the number of cases among students and staff in each school
building during the past 14 days and the size of the school building.

For example, the recommendation for closures to in-person learning is reduced to one to two days from three to seven days in some instances and five days from 14 days in others. The closures permit cleaning and for public health staff to direct contacts to quarantine.

A chart with the updated recommendations is on the Department of Education's website.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced on Monday that Pennsylvania is expected to receive nearly $5 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds to help K-12 schools returns students to classroom learning and equitably expand opportunity for students who need it most.