Don’t throw those masks away just yet. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has issued new guidance for Back-to-School as the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus is sweeping the nation.
The MDHHS guidance is based on updated Centers for Disease Control recommendations. The focus is on keeping school buildings open and keeping kids in school as much as possible. Risk level assessment and layering of prevention measures are part of the strategy.
The strategies include vaccinating as many people as are eligible for the vaccine. Right now, that is people aged twelve and older. Consistent and correct mask use is also part of the current strategy. The CDC recommends that all students and staff continue to mask up.
Physical distancing, screening and testing, hand-washing, improved ventilation, and contact tracing are all part of the layering approach.
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun of MDHHS said, “We continue to urge all eligible residents to get the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible as it is our best defense against the virus and the way we are going to end this pandemic.”
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
