Public Health Update for the School Community

October 3, 2022

New CDC Framework

Why shift to COVID-19 Community Level?

• Aligns with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations (Scientific Brief)
• Marin County is well prepared for the next phase of the pandemic
• High rates of vaccination
• Increasing population levels of natural, vaccine-induced, and hybrid immunity
• Steady and sufficient supply of vaccine
• Fall 2022 Bivalent COVID booster available for residents 12 +
• Free access to safe and effective treatments

Situational Update

COVID-19 community transmission is

Substantial

(case rate is 75/100,000 )

CDC Community Level is

(case rates and hospitalizations)

Low

Mask Update

Isolation Update

First 5 days

• You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days.
• Wear a high-quality mask if you must be around others at home and in public.
• Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask.
• Do not travel.
• Stay home and separate from others as much as possible.
• Use a separate bathroom, if possible.
• Take steps to improve ventilation at home, if possible.
• Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
• Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately.
• Learn more about what to do if you have COVID-19.

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CalOSHA Standard

• Not aligned with CDC recommendations
• Linked to CDPH guidance:
• “Infectious period” means the following time period, unless otherwise defined by CDPH regulation or order
• Current CDPH guidance (last updated 6/9/22) not aligned with CDC guidance

Isolation Guidance | Students

• When does isolation end?
• Isolation can end and students may return to school on day 6 if fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication AND symptoms are resolving.
• Students need not test again and should wear a mask from Day 6-10. 
• A negative test is not required to return to school/care unless the child/student is unable to mask until day 11 due to age or developmental/medical concerns.
• A negative test should be required to return to participation in sports on days 6-10 in which masking is not recommended (water polo, swimming, wrestling, competitive cheer).

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Isolation Guidance | Students - Algorithm

Should isolate until they are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) AND symptoms are improving.

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After leaving isolation, they should wear a mask indoors.

Isolate at home

Isolation can end after day 5.

Can return to school and they should wear a mask indoors.

Can remove mask indoors.

Day 0-5

Day 6-10

Day 11

Determine when isolation can end

Are symptoms

improving AND

are they fever-free for

24 hours (without the use

of fever-reducing

medication)?

Continue to isolate.

Can return to school without a mask on or after day 11 if symptoms have improved, and they are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication).

NO

YES

Isolation Guidance | Staff

• If staff test positive for COVID, they must follow CalOSHA emergency temporary standards and CDPH Isolation guidance.
• If they test positive for COVID, they must stay at home for at least 5 days.
• Isolation can end after day 5 with a negative COVID test and symptoms are not present or are resolving

Fall 2022 Bivalent COVID Boosters

Bivalent Boosters

• Goal: Generate the strongest and broadest immunity against all variants, incl. pre-omicron variants.
• Bivalent Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech contain the mRNA sequence for the spike protein of two strains of SARS-CoV-2:
• the original strain from Wuhan, and
• the current predominant subvariant of Omicron, BA.5.
• CDC and ACIP recommend that if a person is eligible, both influenza and COVID-19 vaccines can be administered at the same visit.

Bivalent Boosters

• Highest priority – residents > 50 years old and those with risk for severe disease
• Bivalent boosters available to people ages 12 years and older At this time, people aged 12 years to 17 years can only receive the updated Pfizer bivalent booster.
• 2 months after last monovalent vaccine dose
• Not approved for primary series

MPX Update

• Not seeing significant non-sexual transmission
• Expanded vaccine eligibility
• Any man or trans person who has sex with men or trans persons
• Anyone living with HIV / AIDS

• Overdose deaths have doubled
• Half are fentanyl related

Rainbow Fentanyl

��Rainbow pills, powder, and blocks can resemble sidewalk chalk or candy.�Any pill that that’s not from a prescriber/pharmacist can contain fentanyl and be deadly.

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/sapb/Pages/Rainbow-Fentanyl-Alert.aspx

Fentanyl: Two Strategies

• Education/awareness:
• Drug supply is poisoned
• Unpredictability of contents or dose
• Don’t purchase online
• Overdose prevention
• Narcan (naloxone)
• Opioid overdose reversal agent
• In all public high schools and middle schools

Fentanyl: Education and Outreach

Register at https://www.Letstalkmarin.org

Fentanyl: Narcan �Distribution and Training

Schools Can Order at:

Naloxone Distribution Project

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Training Contact:

RapidResponse@marinschools.org