���Public Health Schools Update
for Parents and Guardians
Tuesday, August 25, 2021
Este webinar se transmite simultáneamente en español. Haga click en el botón de interpretación del idioma que aparece en su pantalla si desea escuchar esto en español.
Context
We know how to do this!
100% of Schools offered in-person instruction in 2020-21
COVID -19 Cases: Marin County
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Data accessed �8/25/2021
Cases by Vaccination Status
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Data accessed 8/25/2021
Prevalence of variants in Marin: 100% Delta
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Data accessed 8/25/2021
Disease versus infection: Vaccination
Compared to vaccinated residents, unvaccinated Marin residents are:
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Marin County COVID-19 Hospitalizations
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Data accessed 8/25/2021
Disease versus infection: Children Age 0-19
20% of popn, 18.3% of cases, 1.2% of hospitalizations, 0% of deaths
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Data accessed 8/25/2021
Health Defined
Looking Back on School Data�
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Date | Tier | Student days | Suspected In-School�Transmission |
October 8, 2020 | Red | 62,934 | 0 |
November 10, 2020 | Orange | 265,625 | 0 |
December 3, 2020 | Red | 401,032 | 1 |
January 15, 2021 | Purple | 739,883 | 7 |
February 12, 2021 | Purple | 1,075,862 | 11 |
March 10, 20221 | Red | 1,332,358 | 11 |
April 16, 2021 | Orange | 1,842,838 | 12 |
May 14, 2021 | Orange | 2,345,748 | 12 |
June 11, 2021 | Yellow | 2,805,650 | 19 |
Looking Back on Public Health Guidelines�
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First Public Health Guidelines initially issued June 18, 2020 for the Fall of 2020
Expectation that evolving nature of COVID-19 would result in changing guidelines
Guidelines revised on August 12, 2020 –> December 8, 2020 –> March 23, 2021
Marin Schools proved guidelines to be effective, and that schools remain the safest place for students – structured – supervised – protected environment
August 18, 2021 update reflects the fourth version of guidelines
Looking Ahead
on Public Health Guidelines�
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Expectation is that COVID-19 will continue to evolve, and guidelines will continue to change over time
Some guidelines are currently listed as not currently applicable (eg. routes into campus, and schedules for arrivals)
Mitigation strategies may shift (eg. masking indoors or masking indoors & outdoors)
Vaccination rates among adults and students may impact where a particular school lands on a continuum of mitigation strategies
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Face Masks and COVID-19 Risk
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Masks and face coverings | Marin County Coronavirus Information (marinhhs.org)
Wearing a mask reduced individual risk for infection with SARS-CoV-2-like viruses by nearly 70%
Safe, Simple, and Effective
CDC summary evidence:
Marin County Public Health urges all Marin schools to adopt universal mask wearing policies (indoors and outdoors) while community transmission remains moderate - high.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Chu et al. Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet. 395: 10242; P1973-1987. JUN 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31142-9
Face Masks References
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Commentary: Physiological and Psychological Impact of Face Mask Usage during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
In healthy populations, wearing a mask does not appear to cause any harmful physiological alterations, and the potentially life-saving benefits of wearing face masks seem to outweigh the documented discomforts.
Exposing society to SARS-CoV-2 without the unacceptable consequences of severe illness with public masking could lead to greater community-level immunity and slower spread as we await a vaccine.
Masks and Face Coverings for the Lay Public : A Narrative Update.
Even small reductions in individual transmission could lead to substantial reductions in population spread…there is no evidence that masks result in significant physiologic decompensation or that risk compensation and fomite transmission are associated with mask wearing.
Moral foundations underlying behavioral compliance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, government and public health officials have advocated three behaviors to help "flatten the curve" of the disease-staying-at-home, wearing face masks, and social distancing. Our study with 1033 Americans revealed that caring and fairness concerns predict complying with all behaviors. The findings document the innate intuitions that guide one's decision to comply with such behaviors.
The impact of face masks on children-A mini review.
Our mini review only found one pediatric study, and eight adult studies, which explored the medical parameters of mask wearing, and these did not report any harmful effects. Further studies are needed so that evidence-based recommendations can be produced for different age groups.
Downsides of face masks and possible mitigation strategies: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
There are insufficient data to quantify all of the adverse effects that might reduce the acceptability, adherence and effectiveness of face masks. New research on face masks should assess and report the harms and downsides.
Universal Masking
Guideline #24� �
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All staff as well as all students are required to wear face coverings indoors, and recommended to wear face coverings outdoors based on the direction of public health, unless there is a medical or behavioral contraindication or exemption. Students from grades TK - 2 should be supported and taught how to wear them properly, and specific outdoor and appropriately distanced activities may be scheduled for students at all grade levels to remove face coverings for brief periods of time.
Updated Guidance
August 4, 2021 ~ 32 Point Plan
COVID-19 Testing – Many options are available!�(HHS Website)
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Curative Schedule:
COVID-19 Vaccines – Everyone get Vaccinated!�Marin Vaccine Finder (HHS Website)
Many Options Available!
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https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/vaccine
Student and Family Resources
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What’s next?
Thank you����
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