COVID-19 Safety in School, Child Care, and Youth Settings

Most Berkeley children and youth are back attending in-person child care, school, and extracurricular activities during the 2021-22 school year. Berkeley Public Health is working closely with families and providers to promote safe and successful in-person learning, recreation, and care.

Quick COVID-19 links for families

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Where can my child get tested for COVID-19?
Where can my child get a COVID-19 vaccine?
What if my child has to quarantine?
- Home Quarantine Instructions
  English | Spanish
What if my child has to isolate?

Layers of COVID-19 safety

No single intervention can fully prevent COVID-19. By layering multiple safety measures, Berkeley families and providers can help protect our youth and minimize missed time participating in school, sports and social activities.

The most important safety tools to protect against COVID-19 are:

COVID-19 Vaccines: Vaccines are the most effective protection against COVID-19 for adults and children. They are free for all who are eligible (currently those 5 and older) and widely available.
Masking: Making sure that children mask consistently and correctly helps reduce spread of the virus.
Staying home when sick: Keep/send children home when they exhibit COVID-19 symptoms.
COVID-19 testing: Anyone exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms or that have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 should get tested. Free testing is widely available and many schools and programs routinely test students and staff.

For more information on these and other safety measures, see the California Department of Public Health's (CDPH) Safe Schools Hub and CDPH/California Department of Social Services' Guidance for Child Care Providers.

COVID Liaisons at schools and community programs

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Berkeley Public Health has provided training, guidance, and support to designated COVID Liaisons from public and private schools, community agencies, and child care programs across Berkeley. COVID Liaisons support COVID-19 prevention and respond to COVID symptoms, cases and exposures at their sites. Contact the COVID Liaison at your child's school or program for site-specific COVID-19 information.

City of Berkeley's COVID Liaison Toolkit

Find information and tools about COVID-19 response in child and youth settings in the City of Berkeley's COVID Liaison Toolkit. The City developed the toolkit primarily to help COVID Liaisons respond to the pandemic at their sites. Parents and guardians are also welcomed to access this resource.