March 25, 2021

School Guidance Substantially Updated

Schools throughout the state may now open if the case rate is below 25 per 100,000 residents under updated guidance from the California Department of Public Health this week. This change applies to all schools regardless of a county’s tier in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The Department, following a new update from the Centers for Disease Control, also slashed the required classroom distancing protocol from six feet to three feet.

Band, Choir, Drumline, Drama and Cheer Now OK

It was a good week for California high school students who prefer arts to athletics, as the state now allows cheer, band, choir, drama, and drumlines to march onto the scene as of this week.

These activities were reclassified by the California Department of Public Health a “low-contact youth recreational activities” – except cheer, which is classified as a moderate-contact sport – under updated youth and adult recreational sports guidelines. The state has also updated the youth and adult recreational sports FAQ to reflect these changes. Updated guidance for spectators is still under development.

Herd Immunity: Are We There Yet?

The state has begun posting weekly seroprevalence data by region. Seroprevalence measures the percentage of people in a population who have antibodies for the virus that causes COVID-19. People who have antibodies were either infected with COVID-19 at some point in the past or may have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Seroprevalence increases over time as more people are infected or vaccinated.