2022-2023 COVID Updates

From: Ohio Department of Education
To: Ohio K-12 Schools Superintendents

As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Ohio and across the nation dramatically drop, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is updating systems to monitor COVID-19 community spread in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This will include a shift from daily reporting of cases, hospitalizations, and vaccinations to the public at coronavirus.ohio.gov to weekly reporting on Thursdays beginning the week of March 14.

In addition, ODH is easing requirements for case reporting by K-12 schools effective immediately.

It’s important to note that quarantine and isolation measures, as outlined in the Mask to Stay, Test to Play protocol for K-12 schools, will remain in effect. Mask to Stay, Test to Play supports in-person learning by allowing any student exposed to COVID-19, but not symptomatic or COVID-19 positive, to remain in school while appropriately and consistently wearing a mask.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, K-12 schools should continue to work closely with local health departments to monitor community spread. This is also a good time to remind students and parents that mitigation strategies often help reduce transmission of all infectious diseases, including COVID-19 and the flu.

• Please encourage staff and students to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations, including booster doses. COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are the best prevention tool we have against severe illness and death. Other effective measures include frequent handwashing, good ventilation, testing if exposed or symptomatic, and staying home if sick.
• If community spread starts to increase again, schools are asked to consider layered prevention strategies, including masking and physical distancing. For more information and resources to monitor community spread, read more about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Community Levels and check community spread in your county.