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10/01/21
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 Five Things to Know for Our School Communities
1. Children's hospital leaders meet with local school board members
Last week, Governor DeWine joined the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association to host a call to discuss COVID-19 and schools. The message is clear: health care providers, including Ohio’s pediatric hospitals, are calling on schools to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in their communities. The Delta variant and other respiratory illnesses are placing unprecedented stress on our health care systems. Ohio Children’s Hospital Association is encouraging vaccinations for eligible students and urging all districts to temporarily adopt universal mask policies.
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2. School mask policies across the state this week
The best thing for children is for them to be in school, five days a week. Wearing masks allows children to be in school consistently with less risk of contracting and transmitting the virus. A majority of students in the state are going to school with local mask mandates, and data continues to show that this is contributing to lower caseloads in their community.
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Mask Policy Experienced by Student
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Estimated Pct. of All Students
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Mask Optional
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37.2%
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Mask Required
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62.8%
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3. Masks work, here's why
At the request of school leaders, the Ohio Department of Health created a resource outlining how, and why, masks work to prevent the spread of infectious disease. While masks cannot stop every respiratory droplet exchange, they have been proven through scientific studies to dramatically reduce the severity of illness because there is less virus being exchanged. The new resource may be of assistance for school leaders looking for more information on the evidence for mask effectiveness.
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4. Questions and answers about schools and COVID-19
The Ohio Department of Health recently posted a helpful Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document. Topics include the quarantine alternative pilot, mask mandates, bus driver shortages and children and COVID-19. This resource will be updated regularly.
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5. Back to School: Resources for Return
The Ohio Department of Education continues to update the Resources for Return webpage with information and resources to further support the academic, social and emotional needs of each Ohio student. Resources on this page are intended to assist Ohio’s education community in achieving a safe and successful 2021-2022 school year. New and updated resources include child nutrition and Pandemic-Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) technical assistance, youth and adult mental health resources, online and blended learning considerations and more!
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