The Hawai`i Department of Health recognizes the health benefits of children attending school in person, including the fundamental links between education and long-term health outcomes. The updated Guidance for K-12 Schools provides multiple mitigation strategies that are designed to be layered, flexible, and aligned with CDC guidance, to help slow the spread of the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and maintain safe school environments and operations.
The updated Guidance for K-12 Schools is based on the best available evidence at this time and will continue to be updated as new information becomes available. The most recent key changes to the Guidance for Schools are highlighted in the summary box below.
Summary of Guidance Changes for K-12 Schools, updates as of March 22, 2022
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- Individual case investigation, contact identification, and quarantine of in-school exposures is no longer recommended for K-12 schools when universal indoor masking is implemented.
- Schools that implement optional indoor masking policies after March 25, 2022 should continue individual case investigation, contact identification, and quarantine of all COVID-19 exposures.
Early Care and Education/Child Care Programs
Early Care and Education/Child Care Programs including DHS Registered Family Child Care Home Providers, Licensed Group Child Care Center Providers, Group Child Care Home Providers, Infant and Toddler Child Care Providers and Before and After School Child Care Providers should refer to DHS Guidelines for Child Care Facilities to Reopen or Continue Care for guidance on COVID-19 and Isolation and Quarantine.
What is the Current 7 Day Average on Each Island?
Printable Resources
- Potential Exposure Notification (For K-12 Schools Implementing Universal Indoor Masking Policies)
- Summary Guidance for Hawai’i K-12 Schools
- Comprehensive Guidance for K-12 Schools
- When a Person at a K-12 School Has COVID-19 (for School Administrators)
- Close Contact Notification (For K-12 Schools Implementing Optional Indoor Masking Policies)
- Interim Isolation and Quarantine Guidance for K-12 Schools
- School Testing Startup Handbook
- Identifying and Talking to Your Close Contacts
- Test to Stay Guidance (For K-12 Schools Implementing Universal Indoor Masking Policies)
- Operation Expanded (OpET) Testing
- Why Should We Test for COVID-19 in Schools?
- COVID-19 Close Contact Report Form for Schools