Alabama Department of Public Health issues guidance for Alabama schools

Updated guidance for K-12 Alabama schools is now available on the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) website. These updates reflect the most up-to-date recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which are based on the best scientific understanding of how COVID-19 infects and spreads among students and educators. The newly revised toolkit, “Back to School Guidance 2021-2022,” may be viewed at https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/covid19/assets/cov-school-guidance-073021.pdf. 

In a letter addressed to school officials, State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris writes about how incredibly difficult the past 18 months have been for teachers, administrators, school staff members, students and parents. As Alabama children return to the classroom setting, ensuring children can be educated in the safest possible environment is the task of ADPH.

Dr. Harris stated, “For those who are eligible, vaccination remains our most potent strategy for preventing disease among students, faculty and staff, and vaccination also eliminates the need for quarantine among many of the close contacts in our schools. Other mitigation strategies, such as face coverings, distancing, and hygiene measures are also important, especially in those communities that are experiencing high levels of COVID-19 transmission."

COVID-19 information is available at https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/covid19/index.html.