- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
State updates K-12 COVID-19 guidance regarding extracurricular activities
Board Chair Bruno Sabatier had agendized the discussion last week, ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, after he said county school officials asked for support to address the indoor masking requirements.
Sabatier had prepared a letter to California Department of Public Health Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly over concerns about the safety of the practice.
The agenda was posted on Nov. 24, Sabatier said. Later the same day, CDPH posted its updated guidance.
Sabatier said he had spoken on Monday with Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg, who said the matter is now up to the individual school districts to make the decisions.
Sabatier said the county also had received an email from all county school superintendents to the state about the masking requirements and had planned to join with them in the request for reconsideration, but it is now unnecessary due to the state’s updated guidance.
“The matter is no longer relevant in my opinion,” he said.
Sabatier noted that the new guidance includes wording that allows the option of not masking.
The guidance also appears to be contradictory.
In one paragraph, it states, “Masks are required indoors at all times when participants are not actively practicing, conditioning, competing, or performing.”
It then goes on to say that masks must be worn during such activities.
The guidance states: “When actively practicing, conditioning, or competing in indoor sports, masks are required by participants even during heavy exertion, as practicable. If masks are not worn due to heavy exertion, it is strongly recommended that individuals undergo screening testing at least once weekly. An FDA-approved antigen test, PCR test, or pooled PCR test is acceptable for evaluation of an individual's COVID-19 status.”
While the guidance emphasizes the need to wear masks indoors, Sabatier noted that it includes the words, “as practicable,” which appears to allow an alternative.
The new CDPH guidance on extracurricular activities from Nov. 24 is published below.
16. School-Based Extracurricular Activities
The requirements and recommendations in this guidance apply to all extracurricular activities that are operated or supervised by schools, and all activities that occur on a school site, whether or not they occur during school hours, including, but not limited to, sports, band, chorus, and clubs.
Activities may be performed outdoors without masks. Indoor mask use remains a critical layer in protecting against COVID-19 infection and transmission, including during sports, music, and related activities. Accordingly:
• Masks are required indoors at all times for teachers, referees, officials, coaches, and other support staff.
• Masks are required indoors for all spectators and observers.
• Masks are required indoors at all times when participants are not actively practicing, conditioning, competing, or performing. Masks are also required indoors while on the sidelines, in team meetings, and within locker rooms and weight rooms.
• When actively practicing, conditioning, or competing in indoor sports, masks are required by participants even during heavy exertion, as practicable. If masks are not worn due to heavy exertion, it is strongly recommended that individuals undergo screening testing at least once weekly. An FDA-approved antigen test, PCR test, or pooled PCR test is acceptable for evaluation of an individual's COVID-19 status.
• Individuals using instruments indoors that cannot be played with a mask (e.g., wind instruments) may perform if bell coverings are used when playing wind instruments AND a minimum of 3 feet of physical distancing is maintained between participants. Modified masking may be considered in addition to, but not in place of, bell covers. If bell covers are not used, it is strongly recommended that individuals undergo screening testing at least once weekly. An FDA-approved antigen test, PCR test, or pooled PCR test is acceptable for evaluation of an individual's COVID-19 status.
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