COVID-19 Info for Schools and Childcare

Make sure staff and families know where to find accurate information.

Point them to our website, Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and CDC.

DOH updated guidance:

Guidance to Prevent and Respond to COVID-19 in K-12 Schools and Child Cares.
COVID-19 Information & Resources.
Symptom Decision Tree for K-12 Schools.
Access to Diagnostic Testing for COVID-19 (page 2).
Ventilation guidance from CDC, state DOH and EPA.

COVID-19 Testing in Schools

Testing helps identify cases early and can limit the spread of COVID-19. Testing can be conducted at school or with over-the-counter tests at home.

Resources:

DOH information for testing in schools.
K-12 exposure chart. Also available in Samoan, Spanish, Khmer, Korean, Russian, Tagalog, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.
K-12 guidance for at-home testing flyer.

Everyone 6 months or older is eligible to get vaccine.

People 6 months or older can get Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. People 18 years or older can get Novavax vaccine.

View vaccine information in large print. Also available in Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Russian and Simplified Chinese.

Our data dashboard shows how many people who live or work in Pierce County got vaccine.

Parents who can’t be present for the vaccination of their child can print and sign this permission form.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccine and children. Also available in Spanish.

COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit for Schools

Use our toolkit to promote COVID-19 vaccination and answer questions from families and students.

COVID-19 Testing Info for Kids Under 5

Rapid Antigen tests for children 2 and older when the sample is collected by an adult. Washington State Department of Health updated guidance allows guardians and caregivers of children under 2 years of age to perform an at-home COVID test.

BinaxNow
iHealth
CareStart
On/Go

PCR test for children 2 and older when sample is collected by an adult.

LetsGetChecked

Communications with schools

2023

Helpful tools for childcare

Child Care Guidance

Clean and Disinfect
Guidance

Daily Checklist

English.

Helpful tools for schools

K-12 COVID-19 Requirements for 2022-2023 School Year.
Preventing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during aerosol generating and other procedures.
Report a COVID-19 case in a school.
Download our clean and disinfect in kitchen infographic, available in multiple languages: English | Spanish | Korean | Vietnamese | Tagalog | Russian | Simplified Chinese
Disinfecting items for COVID-19.
Contact Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Accepting over-the-counter tests.
School outbreak letter.
School outbreak letter (Spanish).
Robocall script: Exposure from case or cases on school.

Resources and tools for families

Model and encourage healthy habits.

We can all take these steps to safeguard our health.

A well-fitting mask is encouraged but not required.
Wash your hands often with soap and water and for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Cover your coughs and sneezes.
Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces.
Stay at home and away from others if you are sick.
Get your COVID-19 vaccines and booster if you haven’t yet.

Help reduce anxiety about COVID-19.

Teach children how they can protect themselves against illness. Evidence suggests COVID-19 is generally mild in children. Those at risk for severe illness are over age 65, have health conditions or are pregnant.

Helpful tools

How to talk to your child about COVID-19—KidsHealth from Nemours Children’s Health System.
Just for Kids: A Comic Exploring the New Coronavirus—National Public Radio.
Helping Children and Youth Who Have Experienced Traumatic Events—Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Help reduce stigma

Worry and misunderstanding can create fear and mistrust. Disease can affect anyone. Use these resources to help reduce COVID-19 stigma.

Stigma reduction—Washington State Department of Health.
It takes all of us to reduce stigma during disease outbreaks—Washington State Department of Health.
Anti-stigma resources—Public Health – Seattle & King County.

School-basted testing pilot program results

Executive summary of School-Based Testing Pilot program

Review and update your emergency operations plan.

Update your plan to include information about COVID-19. You don’t need to start from scratch—you can update your plan from 2009’s H1N1 pandemic.

These tools can help shape your plan.

Schools and Childcare FAQs

What role or responsibility do schools have if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19?

K-12 students who test positive should isolate at home regardless of vaccination status. Childcare providers are required to send sick people home. Staff are required to isolate if COVID positive. Read Washington State Department of Health’s Guidance to Prevent and Respond to COVID-19 in K-12 Schools and Child Cares for isolation recommendations in schools and child care facilities.

Why is my childcare facility sending my sick child home?

Childcare providers are required to send home or isolate children with illness. This includes fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or other symptoms listed in WAC 110-300-0205.

Washington State Legislature has required this since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kids at daycare can easily spread common illnesses, such as:

Common cold.
Stomach bug.
Hand, foot and mouth disease.
COVID-19.