Schools & Daycares

COVID-19 INFORMATION FOR SCHOOLS & FAMILIES

Procedures for Quarantine - Information for Families

Tested positive for COVID or are you a close contact?

New guidelines from LARA to ensure safe childcare operations during COVID-19

Back to School for 2021-2022 school year

The health and safety of our Berrien County students, staff, and families is of utmost importance. Schools provide safe, supportive learning environments for students as well as critical services including school meal programs and social, physical, behavioral, and mental health services. Students benefit from in-person learning. Vaccination is currently the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Promoting vaccination can help schools safely return to in-person learning as well as extracurricular activities and sports. 

In addition, schools will need to continue other COVID-19 prevention strategies as they remain critical to protect students, teachers, and staff, who are not fully vaccinated.

The Berrien County Health Department has issued new guidance to schools and daycares that aligns with updated guidance from MDHHS. 

MDHHS Updated Guidance for k-12 school exposures/quarantines to Covid-19

Monitoring COVID-19 Community Transmission & Prevention Strategies

The Berrien County Health Department (BCHD) will provide ongoing monitoring of community transmission in Berrien County and the surrounding region. This data surveillance allows the Health Department to support school leaders in making informed and educated decisions that are best for school operations, students and staff. BCHD will provide regular updates and adjust recommendations to schools based on the CDC’s predesignated indicators and thresholds for community transmission of COVID-19. 

Please keep in mind that as new health and safety information becomes available, school districts may need to update their individual district plans. (Individual plans can be found on each school district’s website.) School districts will also continue to communicate with students, parents/guardians and staff members so that everyone understands what they can expect when school resumes this fall.

Berrien County Health Department continues to provide updates regarding best practices for COVID-19 prevention strategies. See the latest guidance and recommendations issued to school/educational leaders.