May 22, 2024 - California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools and Child Care Settings to Support Safe In-Person Services and Mitigate the Spread of Communicable Diseases, 2023-2024 School Year K–12 Guidance 2023–24 School Year (ca.gov)
August 25, 2023 - Orange County Health Care Agency (CDPH)
May 11, 2023 - The White House ends the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency
This date marks the end of the federal COVID-19 PHE declaration by the President on January 31, 2020 for the public health emergency and the national emergency that was declared in March of 2020.
March 24, 2023 - Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA)
In light of the recent COVID-19 related guidance and orders by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the State Public Health Officer, the following Orders and Strong Recommendations shall revise and replace the prior Orders and Strong Recommendations of the County Health Officer that were issued on September 23, 2022. The Orders and Strong Recommendations issued on September 23, 2022, are no longer in effect as of March 24, 2023.
March 10, 2023 – Latest Covid guidance in effect Monday, March 13, 2023
Students are recommended to isolate for a minimum of 5 days from the 1st date of symptoms when testing positive for Covid and can now return on Day 6 regardless of having a negative test, as long as they’re feeling well, have improving symptoms and are fever-free for 24 hours. Additionally, after ending isolation, persons may remove their mask sooner than Day 10, with two sequential negative tests one day apart.
August 11, 2022 – Announcement made by the CDC
The CDC announced loosened guidelines and restrictions. (see link below in Health Resources) The primary change impacting schools is when testing positive for Covid students can come out of isolation after 5 days on day 6 regardless of having a negative test. You should wear a mask through day 10 and you can discontinue wearing a mask with 2 negative tests.
June 30, 2022 – Announcement made by Orange County Health Care Agency
Effective July 1, 2022, all individual student Covid-19 case reporting to the county is no longer required. Schools are still required, as with other communicable diseases, to report outbreaks. The current definition of a COVID-19 outbreak is; 3 or more cases within a group (e.g. classroom, team, activity group) that test COVID-19 positive within 14 days.
February 28, 2022 – Announcement made by Governor Gavin Newsom
In California beginning March 12th in schools and childcare facilities, masks will not be required but will be strongly recommended. It was also announced that starting March 1, masks will no longer be required for unvaccinated individuals, but will be strongly recommended for all individuals in most indoor settings (this excludes schools). As always, local jurisdictions may have additional requirements beyond the state guidance. Click here for the press release: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/02/28/governors-newsom-brown-and-inslee-announce-updated-health-guidance/