HRCSD Message
May 24, 2023
State releases new COVID-19 guidance
This month, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Oregon Department of Education (ODE) announced updates to COVID-19 protocols for K-12 schools.
As the COVID-19 public health emergency unwinds, schools will experience the following change, effective May 11, 2023, a five-day period of isolation for those infected with COVID-19 will no longer be recommended for the general population, including people in K-12 education settings. Oregon public health officials believe widespread population immunity due to vaccination and repeated infections means most COVID-19 infections are now likely asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, and the five-day isolation period is doing little to reduce transmission. The recommendation for the general population will be to:
Stay home until fever free for 24 hours and symptoms are improving
Avoid contact with individuals at increased risk for severe disease, including older adults and those with underlying medical conditions
Consider masking for 10 days
Effective June 17, 2023, the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for public and private school teachers, staff, contractors, and school volunteers (OAR 333-019-1030) will be lifted. This change means that after June 16, teachers, school staff and volunteers in schools will no longer have to provide proof of vaccination or have a valid medical or religious exception on file to be in direct or indirect contact with students. People with approved medical or religious COVID-19 exceptions will no longer be required to attest to their health prior to coming to work. Being up to date on COVID-19 vaccines continues to offer significant protection against serious illness and hospitalization.
For more information on COVID-19, please visit the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) website. Hood River County Health Department may be reached at health@hoodrivercounty.gov / 541-386-1115.