Columbia Public Schools new mask guidelines to go into effect Monday
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Columbia Public Schools updated its mask, contact tracing, and quarantine guidelines for the remainder of summer school.
Starting Monday, Students 11 years-old and younger will be required to wear a mask when indoors and on school buses. However, students will not be required to wear a mask when outdoors.
Masks are still strongly encouraged for those 12 years-old and older when inside.
On Friday, the district updated its contact tracing and quarantine guidelines as well.
Quarantine is not required for those fully vaccinated who have no symptoms or if the person who is exposed was wearing a mask indoors and has no symptoms.
The district will continue with a 10-day quarantine if someone is exposed to the virus or a 7-day quarantine if someone gets a negative COVID-19 test result between days 5 and 7 and shows no symptoms. Both the 10-day and the 7-day quarantine protocols also require a mask through day 14.
The district said contact tracing will be done for those not wearing a mask indoors if they are within 3 feet of someone for 15 minutes or more within a 24-hour period who has COVID-19.
The district said it is continuing to encourage all those who are eligible to get vaccinated. Vaccines are currently available for those 12 and older.
The most recent data shows 217 CPS students are in isolation or quarantine for COVID-19, and 204 of those are elementary students.
On Monday, the Columbia Board of Education also plans to discuss the return to virtual learning, including the renewal of hot spots.
The administration is requesting approval of the renewal of the contract with T-Mobile USA, which provides Home Internet Access for qualifying students and staff.
The administration is looking to renew 2,873 hotspots and as well as a new agreement for 4,200 service lines for the new middle school devices.
The administration expects the renewal to cost $1,287,569, which will be covered by the Federal Stimulus Funds.
The term of the agreement is July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.
