ICTS

OC School Reopening Support

Section 1

Based on requests from OC cities, the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and Children's Hospital Orange County (CHOC Children's) have developed an expert school reopening committee that we refer to as the Healthy Start K-12 Working Group. 

 

We offer schools FREE consultations as they develop, implement, and update re-opening protocols with the changing environment to offer the safest possible environment for their students and teachers.

 

As we are all aware, we must be guided by the science, using the best evidence we currently have available to ensure the safest possible learning environment for its students, teachers, and staff. Our multidisciplinary team of pediatricians, infectious disease and public health specialists, nurses, mental health professionals, educators, parents, and community stakeholders has and will continue to provide invaluable assistance to several OC schools. Drawing on Federal, State, and County level guidance, we can help by reviewing your plan at no cost and providing actionable guidance. 

 

Submit your plan today 

Available Resources

Orange County COVID-19 School Consultation Service 
Call 844-GET CHOC to talk to a clinician or get support in creating and implementing school reopening procedures. More information here.
Student Symptom Decision Tree
This resource can be used to screen all students for potential COVID-19 symptoms or exposure.
English Version
Spanish Version
Staff Symptom Decision Tree
This resource can be used to screen all staff for potential COVID-19 symptoms or exposure.
English Version

CDPH Industry Guidelines
The California Department of Public Health released industry guidence on August 3, 2020 for the Schools and School-Based Programs. The guidence is available here.

CDC Quarantine Guidelines
The Cencer for Disease Control released guidence on managing quarentin on October 27, 2020 that can be useful in developing quarentin plans for school. Find infomratin here. 

Information regarding HVAC

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers have a document provides very helpful information regarding HVAC system by schools. (https://www.ashrae.org/file%20library/technical%20resources/covid-19/ashrae-reopening-schools-and-universities-c19-guidance.pdf ).   As mentioned in the guidelines, increasing ventilation and air filtration are appropriate ways to improve indoor air quality and help to reduce potential airborne transmission of COVID. However, it may not always be possible to increase ventilations with all or mostly outside air because of the complexity and diversity of building types, size, construction styles and HVAC system components. So, school professionals should interpret ASHRAE guidelines based on their school building conditions and circumstances.

Additionally UCI environmental health and safety has a website that address a few air quality/HVAC FAQ’s based on responses the health and safety experts have provided in the past. https://www.ehs.uci.edu/public-health/covid-19/faq.php