With Berkeley public schools closing, social distancing remains important to limit spread of COVID-19

With the Berkeley Unified School District closing all district schools through at least April 6, families should use social distancing practices for their children to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Although this decision was not made at the recommendation of Berkeley’s Health Officer, we know that the District weighed many complex factors in its decision to close. Berkeley Public Health is continuing to partner closely with the District and local schools to share guidance and strategies, including ways to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the overall community.

If your child’s school is closed

If your child’s school is closed, it is important to follow Public Health recommendations on healthy behaviors and social distancing measures:

• Stay home as much as possible. The intention behind school closures is to slow the spread of disease by reducing opportunities for exposure.
• Avoid large gatherings. If you need to go out with your child, avoid crowded places where large numbers of people are within arm’s length of one another.
• Children should avoid contact with high-risk groups, including grandparents and other older caretakers. While children are less affected by COVID-19, they can spread the disease to others. Adults over 60 and people with underlying health conditions are at the highest risk.

Everyone of all ages should continue to practice healthy behaviors that slow the spread of disease, including:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds
• Cover your cough with a tissue or your elbow
• Stay home when sick, except to get medical care

If you need to go out, follow Public Health guidance about social distancing, and try to maintain at least an arm’s length of space between yourself and others.

For advice on talking to children about COVID-19, refer to guidance from the CDC.

Guidance for decisions on school closures

For administrators considering whether to close a school, please follow updated guidance on school closures released today by CDC.

CDC advises that school closures may be appropriate when:

• there is a confirmed COVID-19 case within the school (a few days of closure for decontamination and contact tracing)
• there is significant absenteeism among staff and students (2-4 week closure)
• there is substantial community spread in the jurisdiction (4-8 week closure)

The CDC guidance also notes that in other countries, short or medium term school closures (2-4 weeks) have not proved to reduce community spread.

Now as a community we should focus on how to maintain our City’s safety and maintain our essential services and operations.

For all news from the City of Berkeley related to COVID-19 and links to helpful resources, see cityofberkeley.info/coronavirus.