Back to School During Covid 19 – Guidelines for Parents 

As many children return to school this week and in the coming weeks, we want to make sure that you are aware of the Covid-19 statewide mandatory school guidelines as well as additional resources provided by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and the Louisiana Department of Education.

Practice putting on a taking off a mask without touching the front of the mask. Masks should be worn on the way to and from school when riding the bus, car pooling with people outside of your household, or walking in groups in which physical distancing is not possible. Label masks with your child’s name.

MASKING GUIDELINES FOR ALL PUBLIC AND NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS:

Face masks that properly cover the wearer’s mouth and nose should be worn indoors outside of your residence at all times, under the Governor’s statewide mask mandate. The order requires face coverings for everyone of age to be enrolled in kindergarten and older except for the following:

• Anyone who has a medical condition that prevents the wearing of a face covering
• Anyone who is consuming a drink or food
• Anyone who is trying to communicate with a person who is hearing impaired
• Anyone who is giving a speech for broadcast or to an audience
• Anyone temporarily removing his or her face covering for identification purposes

(Source: LA. Dept of Ed.)

MASKING REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS

• All staff must continue to mask while indoors, regardless of vaccination status. 
• Parents and visitors must mask while in childcare facilities.
• While outdoors, fully vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals do not need to mask if they adhere to physical distancing requirements.
• Since children under the age of 12 are ineligible for vaccination, it is strongly recommended that children between the ages of 2 and 5 wear a mask. 
• Children 5 years and older must wear a mask.

(Source: La Dept. of Ed.)

Where can I learn more about the vaccine?

Please visit our vaccine information page for a wealth of helpful links and information. 

LATEST GUIDELINES: (Source: Louisiana Dept. of Health)

What are the latest safety protocols?

Gov. John Bel Edwards has temporarily reinstated Louisiana’s statewide mask mandate indoors for all people age five and older as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise across Louisiana, threatening the ability of Louisiana’s hospitals to deliver care during this fourth surge of COVID.

Louisiana is currently in the worst surge of the COVID-19 pandemic so far in terms of case growth rate, percent positivity and hospitalizations.

(Source: Louisiana Department of Health)

What is the Delta Variant?

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has mutated (changed), resulting in different variants of the virus.

One of these is called the delta variant. The delta coronavirus is considered a “variant of concern” by the CDC because it appears to be more easily transmitted from one person to another (more contagious). As of July 2021, delta is regarded as the most contagious form of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus so far. (Source: Johns Hopkins)

(Source: Louisiana Department of Health)

Is there any new information regarding the vaccine?

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine remains the single best way of protecting yourself, your family and your community against COVID-19. While the protection provided by each of the three currently available COVID-19 vaccines is very good against COVID-19 and the variants currently spreading in Louisiana, the protection is not absolute. LDH is aware of a small number of “breakthrough cases,” or individuals who contracted COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated. (Source: Louisiana Department of Health)

Although vaccines afford very high protection, infection with the delta and other variants remain possible. Fortunately, vaccination, even among those who acquire infections, appears to prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. (Source: Johns Hopkins)

Being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 can protect you from the delta variant.

• • All three of the F.D.A.-authorized COVID-19 vaccines can protect you from the delta coronavirus. For Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, you need both doses for maximum protection.
  • While the authorized COVID-19 vaccines are not perfect, they are highly effective against serious coronavirus disease and reduce the risk of hospitalization and death.
  • Other vaccines available in other countries may not be as effective in protecting you from the delta variant and other mutations of the coronavirus.  (Source: Johns Hopkins)

Why are there breakthrough cases? I thought vaccines gave a person immunity.

COVID-19 vaccines are effective. However, a small percentage of people who are fully vaccinated will still get COVID-19 if they are exposed to the virus that causes it, also known as vaccine breakthrough cases.

This means that while people who have been vaccinated are much less likely to get sick, it will still happen in some cases. It’s also possible that some fully vaccinated people might have infections, but not have symptoms. Experts are continuing to study how common these cases are.

While approved vaccines are historically well-known to be effective, no vaccine prevents illness 100% of the time. For any vaccine, there are breakthrough cases.  (Source: CDC)

Where can I learn more about the vaccine?

Please visit our vaccine information page for a wealth of helpful links and information. 

LATEST GUIDELINES: (Source: Louisiana Dept. of Health)

What is the Delta Variant?

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has mutated (changed), resulting in different variants of the virus.

One of these is called the delta variant. The delta coronavirus is considered a “variant of concern” by the CDC because it appears to be more easily transmitted from one person to another (more contagious). As of July 2021, delta is regarded as the most contagious form of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus so far. (Source: Johns Hopkins)

Is there any new information regarding the vaccine?

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine remains the single best way of protecting yourself, your family and your community against COVID-19. While the protection provided by each of the three currently available COVID-19 vaccines is very good against COVID-19 and the variants currently spreading in Louisiana, the protection is not absolute. LDH is aware of a small number of “breakthrough cases,” or individuals who contracted COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated. (Source: Louisiana Department of Health)

Although vaccines afford very high protection, infection with the delta and other variants remain possible. Fortunately, vaccination, even among those who acquire infections, appears to prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. (Source: Johns Hopkins)

Being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 can protect you from the delta variant.

• • All three of the F.D.A.-authorized COVID-19 vaccines can protect you from the delta coronavirus. For Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, you need both doses for maximum protection.
  • While the authorized COVID-19 vaccines are not perfect, they are highly effective against serious coronavirus disease and reduce the risk of hospitalization and death.
  • Other vaccines available in other countries may not be as effective in protecting you from the delta variant and other mutations of the coronavirus.  (Source: Johns Hopkins)

Why are there breakthrough cases? I thought vaccines gave a person immunity.

COVID-19 vaccines are effective. However, a small percentage of people who are fully vaccinated will still get COVID-19 if they are exposed to the virus that causes it, also known as vaccine breakthrough cases.

This means that while people who have been vaccinated are much less likely to get sick, it will still happen in some cases. It’s also possible that some fully vaccinated people might have infections, but not have symptoms. Experts are continuing to study how common these cases are.

While approved vaccines are historically well-known to be effective, no vaccine prevents illness 100% of the time. For any vaccine, there are breakthrough cases.  (Source: CDC)

Where can I learn more about the vaccine?

Please visit our vaccine information page for a wealth of helpful links and information.