Schoolsafety.gov | 12/56/2022 -- As the winter season gets underway, the threat of infectious diseases in K-12 school communities can present potential impacts to the safety, health, and well-being of students and staff across the country. It’s critical for K-12 school leaders and personnel to implement and strengthen public health and safety measures to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases, sustain safe in-person learning, and protect students, teachers, and staff.
To reduce the spread of COVID-19, seasonal influenza (flu), and other infectious diseases, K-12 schools should put in place a core set of prevention strategies as part of their normal operations. These include teaching and reinforcing proper hand hygiene, promoting equitable access to vaccinations, and encouraging students and staff to stay home when they are sick. School administrators should also work with local health officials to consider other local conditions and factors when deciding to implement prevention strategies.
The attached SchoolSafety.gov infographic features information and aligned resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Environmental Protection Agency, and other federal agencies specifically around the infectious disease prevention topics of hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting, and ventilation. These strategies and resources can be used as part of a school’s or district’s everyday operations throughout the winter season and beyond to help reduce the spread of infectious diseases, maintain in-person learning for students, and protect the health and safety of community members. Please feel free to download and share this infographic with your members and stakeholders as appropriate.
For additional guidance on preventing infectious diseases and supporting safe, in-person learning, please access these resources from the CDC:
- Guidance for School Administrators to Help Reduce the Spread of Seasonal Influenza in K-12 Schools
- Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning
- Seasonal Flu: Information for Schools & Childcare Providers
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. For additional information on the topic of infectious diseases, public health, and school safety, please visit SchoolSafety.gov or contact our team at SchoolSafety@hq.dhs.gov.