Pasadena Public Health Department Releases Updated COVID-19 Guidance for School Year

Manuel Carmona, Interim Director of Public Health issued updated COVID-19 public health guidance for the 2022-2023 school year.

“The guidance emphasizes the importance of risk-reducing measures that will help keep Pasadena children in school, playing sports, and participating in other important youth activities,” according to a City statement.

After exposure to a COVID-19 positive case, asymptomatic students and staff who have been identified as close contacts are permitted to remain in school and participate in all school activities as long as they wear a protective mask when around others indoors for 10 full days after the last date of exposure and test with a COVID-19 diagnostic test, including over-the counter/home tests) between days 3-5 after the last date of exposure.

“Masking remains an effective non-pharmaceutical public health tool as explained by the Centers for Disease Control in a science brief about community use of masks and their effectiveness for preventing COVID-19 transmission. Properly worn masks with good filtration help slow the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses,” according to the statement. 

The measures are consistent with California Department of Public Health and CDC guidance. Detailed requirements for managing COVID-19 cases and exposures in schools can be found in the Pasadena Public Health Department COVID-19 exposure management plan guidance in TK12 Schools. 

In addition to providing direction to schools for reporting clusters of three or more cases of COVID-19 and recommendations for identifying close contacts in classrooms, the guidance shares requirements for student masking after exposure to a COVID-19 positive case.

The school guidance is consistent with the most current Pasadena Health Officer quarantine order, which requires all residents exposed to a positive COVID-19 case to mask for 10 days and test between Days 3-5 following exposure. 

The Pasadena Public Health Department guidance sets requirements and a minimum level of recommendations to guide schools in making decisions to protect the health and safety of their campus communities. The Department supports schools and districts that decide to implement additional layers of protection to respond to current COVID-19 conditions and concerns in campus communities